The INFO Project Blog

Until recently, the topic of population was not frequently associated with addressing climate change. Now, thanks to collaborative efforts from experts in both fields, the world is beginning to recognize that reducing unmet need for contraception not only helps women to prevent unintended pregnancies, it can also can have a positive impact on the environment.

On February 20, fellow INFO staffer Vanessa Mitchell and I attended the panel discussion, “Population and Climate Change: Relationships, Research, and Responses” at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This event featured Brian O’Neill, scientist at the Institute for the Study of Society and the Environment, and Joseph Speidel, adjunct professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at UCSF. (Dr. Speidel has a long history with INFO. He played a key role in creating the INFO Project’s precursor, the Population Information Program, and is a faithful reviewer of Population Reports. He also serves on INFO’s Editorial Advisory Committee.) The discussion marked the launch of a year-long meeting series sponsored by the Environmental Change and Security Program on population-health-environment issues.

Dr. O’Neill’s talk focused on the correlation between population size and emissions, noting that aging and urbanization may significantly affect the outlook for future emissions. He also points out that long-term climate change goals may be less costly if we are not facing a population boom. Read the rest of this entry »