Earth Day 2007: Improving the Status of Women Will Make a World of Difference

Washington, DC - April 23, 2007

As we celebrate the 37th Earth Day, the world is increasingly—albeit belatedly—focusing on how to address the growing problem of human-induced climate change and the environmental destruction that contributes to it. One critical, but often overlooked, part of any comprehensive program to tackle climate change is addressing gender inequality—particularly in terms of reproductive health—in the developing world.

The interconnections between the status of women and environmental sustainability are significant. For example, more than 200 million women in poor, developing nations wish to delay or end childbearing but lack access to modern contraceptives. In countries such as Ethiopia and Pakistan, more than one-third of married couples have this “unmet need” for contraceptives. This deprivation of basic reproductive rights—which often leads to larger than desired family size—takes a heavy toll on women and results in rapid population growth. As a result, the burden on the global environment and the destruction of natural resources are made even worse.

Currently the world adds 6.3 million people a month and is on track to add another 2.5 billion people by 2050. It’s important to remember that these updated projections from the United Nations assume that birth rates will decline in the developing world. If birth rates remain static, the planet could easily add 5 billion people by 2050, creating a greater and more dire strain on the environment.

A 2005 documentary produced by PAI called “Finding Balance: Forests and Family Planning in Madagascar” profiles Voahary Salama, a local organization whose innovative approach is improving women’s lives and helping ease population pressures on the environment. Considering that 38% of pregnancies worldwide are unintended, providing women with the ability to determine the timing and size of their families can make a significant impact on global population growth. With greater access to reproductive health programs and services, women will live longer, healthier lives—increasing their children’s chances of survival—and population growth rates will slow.

Tragically, despite the need and demand for voluntary family planning, U.S. funding for these programs has been cut by 41 % (adjusted for inflation) since 1995, despite the fact that the number of women of reproductive age in the developing world has increased by 275 million since 1995. To make matters worse, President Bush’s proposed budget for next year recommends another massive cut of 25%.

This Earth Day, PAI challenges governments around the world to show a commitment to reversing human-induced climate change by supporting voluntary family planning programs. The lives of women and the future of the planet are at stake.

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.