As the U.S. Grows, So Grows the World: Environment Pays High Price

Washington, DC - September 11, 2006

A recent report released by the Center for Environment and Population warns that population growth in the U.S. is a "major contributor" to environmental degradation globally—a linkage that PAI has long highlighted around the world. Despite some claims that a global “birth dearth” is more of a concern than population growth, the U.S. population is poised to reach 300 million in October. And population is growing even more rapidly in developing countries—in Ethiopia, for example, the population is projected to double by 2045. Greater access to family planning and reproductive health services allow women and men to determine the number and spacing of their children—and helps ease population pressures on fragile ecosystems.

Americans are consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished—and the trend is expected to continue. According to the report, “the number one cause of biodiversity decline in the U.S. is habitat loss.” Worldwide, the situation is more dire, as rapid population growth places extraordinary pressure on the environment.

In recent years, Congress has wisely directed USAID to target its family planning assistance in areas rich in biodiversity. These “hotspots,” cover only 12% of the Earth’s surface, but they house one-sixth of the world’s population and “over 50 percent of the world’s plant species,” according to Conservation International. In most of these areas there is little or no access to reproductive health services and, as a result, the population is growing up to 40% faster in these areas than the world as a whole.

Family planning programs empower women to make their own reproductive choices, as well as ease the burden on local ecosystems. In addition to curbing our own consumption in the U.S., it is imperative that we support these programs in the areas of the world with the most fragile environments. A recent report released by the Center for Environment and Population warns that population growth in the U.S. is a "major contributor" to environmental degradation globally—a linkage that PAI has long highlighted around the world. Despite some claims that a global “birth dearth” is more of a concern than population growth, the U.S. population is poised to reach 300 million in October. And population is growing even more rapidly in developing countries—in Ethiopia, for example, the population is projected to double by 2045. Greater access to family planning and reproductive health services allow women and men to determine the number and spacing of their children—and helps ease population pressures on fragile ecosystems.

Americans are consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished—and the trend is expected to continue. According to the report, “the number one cause of biodiversity decline in the U.S. is habitat loss.” Worldwide, the situation is more dire, as rapid population growth places extraordinary pressure on the environment.

In recent years, Congress has wisely directed USAID to target its family planning assistance in areas rich in biodiversity. These “hotspots,” cover only 12% of the Earth’s surface, but they house one-sixth of the world’s population and “over 50 percent of the world’s plant species,” according to Conservation International. In most of these areas there is little or no access to reproductive health services and, as a result, the population is growing up to 40% faster in these areas than the world as a whole.

Family planning programs empower women to make their own reproductive choices, as well as ease the burden on local ecosystems. In addition to curbing our own consumption in the U.S., it is imperative that we support these programs in the areas of the world with the most fragile environments.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.