World must act to confront global population problem

World Population Day was first observed on July 11, 1987, when the human population was 5 billion, but given the current population at about 8 billion people, little has been accomplished.

It took over 200,000 years for the world’s population to reach 1 billion around 1804. The second billion was reached 123 years later in 1927. The third was in 1960, and going from

7 to 8 billion likely will take 10 years.

Every day 353,000 people join the planet. Human population growth and the overconsumption and destruction of the world’s resources that come with it are at the root of our most pressing environmental problems, including the wildlife extinction crisis, habitat loss, climate change and exposure to pandemic diseases. It is time for every country to address this worldwide crisis.

We need common-sense solutions with governments encouraging small families, empowerment of women and girls and universal access to free birth control. — Tina Peak, Palo Alto