from Jonathon Porritt's blog on 'Revisiting the Population Debate'

And 50% of all the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere today have been emitted in those last 30 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is very clear about this:

‘Technological improvements have shown a persistent pattern over the last few decades, but gains have been outpaced both by increases in affluence (GDP per capita) and by population growth, leading to continued emissions growth.’

It’s not surprising that we struggle with this insane state of affairs. But all those who recognise it for what it is, from a genuinely just, progressive and compassionate point of view, can ill afford to fall out with each other. The next decade is going to be hard enough without that.

P.S. If you want to listen to two young voices from the front line of this debate in Uganda, connecting climate change, family planning, education and women’s rights, the words of Joan Kembabazi and Nyombi Morris should speak powerfully to all of us.