The Nexus Between Population, Development and the Environment: Critical to Determining Quality of Life on Earth

Abstract

Population, development and the environment are inextricably linked and are critical to determining the quality of life on earth, now and for generations to come. The 2016 International Conference on Regional Perspectives on Population, Development and the Environment jointly held by the University of Yangon (UoY) and the Australian National University (ANU) must address the paramount issues mentioned together with foresight well into this twenty-first century. Increasing poverty, overconsumption of resources in the North, low status of women, inappropriate economic policies, rapid population growth and unsustainable use of natural resources are all interconnected. One-quarter of the world’s population—predominantly in the industrialized nations—consumes over 70% of the earth’s resources and is responsible for most of the global environmental degradation. In addition, the implications of adding 95 to 100 million people annually to the world’s current population of 7.4 billion people are staggering and will place tremendous stress on the earth’s ability to provide for basic human needs. Clearly, current patterns of consumption and distribution of people, wealth and natural resources are as much to blame for the widespread environmental degradation as are the sheer numbers of people.