Population, sustainable development and gender equality

Population is a crucial aspect of sustainable development across its three dimensions. Population growth and decline, urban/rural location, migration, composition in terms of sex and age and a host of other factors all have an impact on economic growth and labour markets, health, the environment and the prospects for present and future generations. Population dynamics can significantly influence the possibilities for achieving a socially just and gender-responsive approach to sustainable development. The topic of population elicits debates about the relationships between humans and nature, men and women, old and young, rich and poor. Population policies often centre on women?s health, reproduction and sexuality. Population paradigms frequently attribute poverty to overpopulation; see the causes of environmental degradation and natural resource scarcity in population growth or mismanagement by poor people; and link reducing women?s fertility to mitigating climate change or preventing environmental destruction (UNDP, 2011).

Related Subject(s): Women and Gender Issues