Population bogey

It has been a bone of contention for long – the rising population in the developing world. In the climate change dialogue too, this is used to justify a target for emissions for these nations. But as we have been saying, it is over-consumption and opulent lifestyles that are to blame than population. This is corroborated by a report from the International Institute for Environment and Development.

Researcher David Satterthwaite found that between 1980 and 2005 sub-Saharan Africa had 18.5% of world population growth, but only 2.4% of growth in carbon emissions. Conversely, the US had only 3.4% of world population growth but accounted for 12.6% of emission increases.

Overall, developed nations accounted for 7% of population growth, but 29% of emissions growth; developing nation had 52% of population growth and 13% of emissions growth.

The average child born in the US has an environmental impact larger than one born in most other places. Also, while China's one-child policy did result in a decline in population growth, GHG emissions still rose 44.5% over the study period, due to increasing levels of material consumption among segments of the population.

The New Economics Foundation found that by 4am on January 2nd of a given year, a typical US resident had already emitted carbon emissions equivalent to of the average Tanzanian in a year. A UK resident hit the same level of emissions two days later.

Does this info help? Will those who are rapidly devouring the planet’s resources stop the binge to accommodate others? Unlikely. But perhaps it is time to seriously think of individual emission commitments and plan on a carbon tax like France.