As of 1st of January 2014, there are an estimated 7,137,661,030 people living on Earth. Overpopulation is a more and more prevalent global problem with possibly devastating consequences. World Population Day is an annual event held on the 11 of July, established by the United Nations in 1989, inspired by The Day of Five Billion held in 1987, where the Earth’s population reached an estimated five billion.
This year, World Population Day has the theme: `Investing in Young People` and this is why we, here at the International Political Forum, feel this event even closer to our hearts.
Overpopulation has a devastating effect on humanity, from water shortages to the outbreak of wars, and we can already see the consequences around us.
These are the facts:
Water shortages: An estimated 1 billion people lack access to drinking water across the globe as water demand tripled in the last 50 years.
Air quality: Childhood asthma cases doubled in the last 20 years, and developing communities are at even greater threat, as burning wood is essential to their survival.
Overcrowding: Overcrowding of cities causes problems with hygiene, thus causing the outbreak of diseases, violence, unemployment and possibly wars.
Conflicts and wars: Shortage of resources is one of the main causes of conflict. One of the many devastating examples of such is the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where the minority Tutsi were slaughtered by the majority Hutu, partially due to shortages of land and unsustainable agricultural practices.
As an estimated 1/15 of all the people who ever lived are currently populating the Earth, raising awareness is essential. This is why global events such as World Population Day are in the centre of finding a sustainable solution.
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