Population and Climate Change

Population and CO2 Emissions 1750-2015
Data Sourced from United Nations 2017 Image by Population Matters ©

Climate change is currently having a direct impact on population numbers, diversity and distribution with regards to increased mortality rates as well as increased rates of migration. This is because climate change can affect the environments in which people live by tampering with factors such as: clean air and water, sufficient food, natural constraints on infectious disease agents, and the adequacy and security of shelter. It is the people that live in the poorest countries that are feeling the effects of climate change the most, with millions of people becoming displaced by shoreline erosion, coastal flooding and agricultural disruption, drought and disease events etc. Climate based migration has been on the rise in recent years with the most widely repeated prediction resulting in the planet having 200 million climate refugees by 2050 (IPCC, 2008). The recent trends in climate based migration can itself cause changes to population size in certain locations. High rates of emigration have shown to impact decreases in fertility levels in some locations (United Nations, 2019).

Population size itself has had direct effect on the issue of climate change as significant increases in population growth rates over the last few decades directly correlate with increased global economic growth, consumption patterns and increased demand for fossil fuel based commodities. It is therefore the responsibility of Governments worldwide to consider applying  global population projections as well as our current ways of producing and consuming into a holistic approach that ensures that decisions will result in a Just transition to a decarbonised global economy. This means that future generations as well as the planet will be protected from climate disaster, while making sure no one is left behind in the process.

Populations are however, projected to decrease by one percent or more in 55 countries or areas across the globe. 26 of these countries may even see up to a ten percent decline in population size (United Nations, 2019). This change in population size will again undoubtedly affect the  distribution of people, as well as social and environmental factors in the future. For more examples and further information on current global population trends please see the United Nations highlights of the World Population Prospects Report here.