Join the debate on population, sustainable development and Earth
Two articles in Wednesday’s edition of The News highlight the environmental damage that our current lifestyles are inflicting on planet Earth.
First was your report that 80 GPs are calling for better provision for cyclists to be made in Portsmouth as a means of providing some much needed exercise linked to reduction in traffic pollution as a means of alleviating the symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).
Second was the report on a controversial planning application to squeeze another 1,500 homes into Fareham countryside. These issues are not likely to go away and almost certain to resurface in other parts of the country as the UK’s population continues to increase by 400,000 annually.
Sadly there are other issues that we ignore at our peril and, more importantly, at a cost to our children’s future – global warming and climate change, deforestation, and over-fishing of the oceans.
With this in mind it is worth reflecting on World Population Day established, by the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, which falls on July 11 every year and seeks to focus on the urgency and importance of population issues.
Last year the charity Population
Matters, whose patrons include Sir David
Attenborough and Chris Packham, marked World Population Day by holding events in Lagos, New York, and London. This year, due to coronavirus, activities will be restricted to live online discussions about population and sustainable development goals on the Population Matters Facebook page at 5pm today. You are all welcome to join us.
Population Matters, Hampshire