UNFPA calls for global action as world population hits 7 bln
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 29 Xinhua
With the world population projected to reach 7 billion in five days,
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said in a new report on
Wednesday that the milestone is a global call to action towards a future
to a path to development that is environmentally sustainable and one
where opportunities exist for both men and women.
"With these diverse challenges and trends in mind, we must ask
ourselves which actions we can take today that will chart a path toward
environmentally sustainable development in the future," Richard
Kollodge, author of "The State of the World Population 2011" report, at
a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.
The report, also being launched in more than 100 other cities
worldwide, looks at population trends ranging from aging to rapidly
rising numbers of young people, high population growth rates to
shrinking populations, among many.
There are 1.8 billion young people around the world - the largest
youth cohort in history and nearly 900 million people are above the age
of 60 with the number expected to grow, Kollodge said.
"First we need to educate and empower girls and women to fully
participate in society and to be able to make informed reproductive
decisions, and whatever we do, men and boys must be part of the
solution," Kollodge said. "A future that is sustainable is one that will
be built on equal rights and opportunities."
Kollodge also said investment in health and education of youth of the
world, which will yield "enormous returns and economic growth and
development for generations to come."
"But much more is needed," he warned. "Consider that, there are still
215 million women of child bearing age in developing countries who would
use family planning if only they had access to it."
The report said that charting a path now to development that promotes
quality, rather than exacerbates or reinforces inequality is more
critical than ever.
"With planning and the right investments in people now - to empower
them to make choices that are not only good for themselves, but also for
our global commons - our world of 7 billion can have thriving
sustainable cities, productive labor forces that fuel economies, and
youth populations that contribute to the well-being of their societies,"
said UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin in the forward of the
report.
The report is mainly a report from the field where demographers,
policymakers, governments, civil society and individuals grapple with
population trends.
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