Will Better Access to Birth Control Slow Global Warming?
by Jennifer Chait, 12/01/10
According to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute, better access to birth control should be one of the key strategies in the fight against global warming. By 2050 it’s estimated that world population will reach 9 billion. The Worldwatch Institute report cites evidence that better family planning could help level off the world’s population at 8 billion by 2050. If world population did level off at 8 billion, the Worldwatch Institute notes that it would reduce CO2 emissions by more than the reduction that would occur if global deforestation were completely eliminated. Studies show that as the prevalence of birth control use has grown in recent decades, family size and population growth rates have also slowed, so there’s evidence to back up Worldwatch Institute’s assessment.
