The Link Between Population Growth And Biodiversity Loss | Letters

George Monbiot’s article (The UK authorities didn’t want you to spot this study connected ecosystem collapse. I’m not surprised, 27 January) highlights nan sedate risks identified successful nan UK government’s study Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem illness and nationalist security. However, it overlooks a cardinal facet highlighted successful nan study – that organization maturation is simply a awesome indirect driver of world biodiversity loss. “As nan world organization grows, reaching 9.7 cardinal by 2050, nan effect of nutrient accumulation connected earthy systems will intensify and it will go moreover much challenging to nutrient capable nutrient sustainably,” it says.

Mass-scale description of agriculture driven by world organization maturation risks sacrificing sustainability: forests cleared for farmland, pesticides polluting waterways, and ecosystems pushed beyond betterment accelerating biodiversity loss. It is simply a interest echoed by nan United Nations Intergovernmental Panel connected Climate Change, which identified organization maturation and GDP per capita arsenic nan strongest drivers of c emissions.

We must extremity nan taboo of discussing organization maturation and reside nan underlying causes of it. Currently, location are 121m unintended pregnancies each year, and globally only one successful 10 women consciousness capable to make decisions astir utilizing contraception. By addressing nan drivers of world organization growth, we besides curb rising request for nutrient production, resolving 1 of nan main drivers of biodiversity loss. In addition, much group transitioning to a plant-based fare is essential, arsenic livestock farming occupies much than three-quarters of cultivation onshore and produces doubly nan emissions of harvest farming.

The UK authorities must urgently enactment connected its ain report’s findings by addressing nan causes and effects of world organization maturation and unsustainable depletion patterns arsenic intertwined challenges. Biodiversity nonaccomplishment cannot beryllium ignored, arsenic it poses an existential consequence to geopolitical information and immoderate dream for a serene and sustainable future.
Amy Jankiewicz
CEO, Population Matters