Overpopulation
One recurrent myth is that overpopulation drives climate change, concluding we need to reduce the number of children in countries with high fertility rates. Women in those countries however contribute the least to the global emissions and are most impacted by the consequences of climate change. Tackling climate change requires revising the production and consumption by countries that have the lowest fertility rates, but make up the world’s biggest polluters.
Low birth rates & Ageing
Low birth rates are not responsible for ageing populations. People are just living healthier and longer lives. We need to find answers by increasing productivity, increasing gender parity and understand that migration can be part of the solution, the report says. We should also support those who want to start a family, by investing in sexual and reproductive health care, childcare and quality education.
The question is choice, not population
According to the report, we need to be asking if everyone can make choices about their sexual and reproductive health. 44% of partnered women are unable to make their own decisions over health care, sex or contraception. The result is that nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, abrogating women’s basic human right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.