People, wellbeing and the environment: The linkages and their implications

The world’s least developed countries that have the world’s highest population growth have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions. From this fact it is sometimes deduced that population growth has at best a weak influence on climate change in particular, or environmental degradation in general. This paper argues that this conclusion is hasty. While it is true that population growth has had only a small impact on the climate so far, population growth does have a significant effect on other natural resources. In the least developed countries high population growth is contributing to the highest rate of deforestation, the most significant pressures on natural land and the most serious water shortages, compared with other countries. High population growth paired with efforts to promote human wellbeing will inevitably further exacerbate these pressures on natural resources, including the climate. The paper explains the linkages between population growth and environmental degradation, and on this basis teases out critical policies to promote more sustainable development pathways. It argues that governments must not only promote greener and more inclusive economies but must also address population growth through human-centered and rights-based policies.