Sustainable Development Goals #18: Reduce Population Growth

FACTS AND FIGURES

 Between 1960 and 2000, the world’s population doubled from three billion to six
billion.
 In developing countries, rapid population growth has placed poor people at
greater risk of death, injury, and disease from pollution, floods, droughts, and
other disasters.
 According to the United Nations forecast, this figure will increase to 11 billion by
2100 (and this means that there may be a steady decline in fertility in many
countries opposing this trend).

GOAL #18 Targets by 2020

 More awareness of the relationship between family size and environmental

sustainability can help parents see the benefits of having fewer children.
 Significantly reduce population growth through rights-based policies.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the slowdown in population growth will be
its positive impact on human rights around the world. Gradual population growth led to
higher levels of gender equality. In many parts of the world, women do not have the
opportunities to provide quality education and employment to their male counterparts.
Are Many cultures expect women to stay home and take care of their children. These
old traditions prevent women from pursuing their careers and making decisions about
their lives. Slower population growth means that women have fewer children than
average, giving girls and women the opportunity to pursue a career in education and a
positive cycle of school education, autonomy and equal status.

Dodson and Dérer (2019) argued that rights-based policies could influence future
population growth. There are proven policies, such as voluntary family planning
programs that provide free or affordable access to contraceptives, that can reduce the
fertility rate by avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Furthermore, highlighted the social,
economic and environmental benefits of small families. Although family planning has
been around for a long time, population growth remains a concern. Without
demographic control, there will be an explosion, and as a result, it will be much more
difficult to access the basic needs of human existence. If population growth is not
stopped, it will affect economic growth.

In particular, additional population growth SDGs will voluntarily fund human

rights-based family planning. This method has been successful not only in rapidly
declining fertility but also in women's empowerment and accelerating economic growth.
There is no need for forced "population control" measures. Nevertheless, a broader
understanding of the relationship between family size and environmental sustainability
can help parents realize the benefits of having fewer children.

REFERENCES

The World and the UN Must Reduce Population Growth. (2019, September 12).
Retrieved from https://populationmatters.org/news/2019/09/12/world-and-un-
must-reduce-population-growth

Dodson, J. and Dérer, P. (2019, November 20). The Missing SDG – what should be
added? Retrieved from https://overpopulation-project.com/the-missing-sdg-what-
should-be-added/

Population: The Most Under-Addressed Issue. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.populationmedia.org/issue/population-growth/