Population and Development

The world's population will soon reach 6 billion and is increasing at approximately 90 million per annum. This is the largest absolute level of population growth ever recorded. The UN expects that the world population will probably double once again before stabilizing at a stationary level. Developing countries account for 90 per cent of present and future population growth. This population increase in many developing countries seriously hampers their attempts to overcome their backwardness, to substantially improve their quality of life, and to achieve a sustainable exploitation of renewable and non-renewable resources. Simultaneously, non-sustainable consumption and production patterns in industrial nations, and among wealthy citizens in developing countries, place additional burdens on the planet's natural resources and ecosystems. In order to consider such problems and to elaborate policy guidelines, the UN staged its International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, September 5-13, 1994. This monograph deals with the background to the ICPD, its preparation, proceedings, and content.It also evaluates the results and recommendations of ICPD by comparing the ICPD Action Programme with current scientific literature. The ICPD dealt with the key issues concerning the interrelations between population, development and environment, and their causes. Despite suggestions in the media, driven by the distortions of religious fundamentalists, it was not limited to such marginal issues as abortion, promiscuity and homosexuality. The ICPD Action Programme forms an impressive charter with a broad range of relevant policy recommendations. Nevertheless, compared to most of the current scientific literature, the ICPD seems to underestimate the seriousness and urgency of the issues at stake.