PSDA raised issues of population dynamics at the third UN Environment Summit UN Environmental Assembly, Nairobi, 2017 UN Environment held its third General Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi in December under the overarching theme of pollution. At the end of the summit, the world’s leaders committed to a pollutionfree planet and adopted a resolution on health and environment. The Population and Sustainable Development Alliance (PSDA) used the summit to invite the hundreds of environmental experts, decision makers, negotiators and enthusiasts to a critical dialogue about the links between population issues and environmental sustainability, and by discussing potential solutions of integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) incl. voluntary rightsbased family planning in environmental sustainability efforts at national, regional and global level. Keep discussions on track – a few principles to help While there is a lot of recognition among environmentalists that population issues have an – in many contexts massive – impact across the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, many tend to shy away from discussing the reasons behind and ideas for solutions to these challenges. The PSDA fully recognizes the reasons why this is a potentially challenging topic of discussion including 1) the difficulties in grasping the technical dimensions of population dynamics and SRHR, and 2) the fears of brutal historic human rights violations like forced sterilization and population control repeating themselves. Instead of letting these concerns end the discussions, they should be based on a few basic principles: 1) A human rights based approach to development, where no right can be violated as a means to fulfill another right; 2) There are not too many people on the planet now! If we said so, we would indicate that some of us could be spared and ‘left behind’, which would not only clash with our commitments in the 2030 Agenda, but also serve as an unethical basis for discussions; 3) Population issues is one factor among many that negatively impact environmental sustainability, of which especially years of overconsumption and production in especially the developed countries is a major contributor; 4) Discussions focus on resilience and adaptation to climate change and environmental degradation – not on mitigation.
Transcript
PSDA raised issues of population dynamics at the third UN Environment Summit
UN Environmental Assembly, Nairobi, 2017
UN Environment held its third General Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi in December under the overarching theme of pollution. At the end of the summit, the world’s leaders committed to a pollution-‐free planet and adopted a resolution on health and environment. The Population and Sustainable Development Alliance (PSDA) used the summit to invite the hundreds of environmental experts, decision makers, negotiators and enthusiasts to a critical dialogue about the links between population issues and environmental sustainability, and by discussing potential solutions of integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) incl. voluntary rights-‐based family planning in environmental sustainability efforts at national, regional and global level.
Keep discussions on track – a few principles to help
While there is a lot of recognition among environmentalists that population issues have an – in many contexts massive – impact across the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, many tend to shy away from discussing the reasons behind and ideas for solutions to these challenges.
The PSDA fully recognizes the reasons why this is a potentially challenging topic of discussion including 1) the difficulties in grasping the technical dimensions of population dynamics and SRHR, and 2) the fears of brutal historic human rights violations like forced sterilization and population control repeating themselves.
Instead of letting these concerns end the discussions, they should be based on a few basic principles:
1) A human rights based approach to development, where no right can be violated as a means to fulfill another right;
2) There are not too many people on the planet now! If we said so, we would indicate that some of us could be spared and ‘left behind’, which would not only clash with our commitments in the 2030 Agenda, but also serve as an unethical basis for discussions;
3) Population issues is one factor among many that negatively impact environmental sustainability, of which especially years of over-‐consumption and -‐production in especially the developed countries is a major contributor;
4) Discussions focus on resilience and adaptation to climate change and environmental degradation – not on mitigation.
Identifying the problems
The PSDA invited UNEA participants to a side event on the topic of linkages between population issues and environmental sustainability. Across their positions – but still like-‐minded environmentalists -‐ the participants worked and lived in different contexts with various challenges, and they were invited to identify local and national population issues, the reasons behind and their impact on the environment. A panel of experts within each their field and context of environmental sustainability then added their reflections, experiences and approaches towards solving population and environmental issues simultaneously.
From this came a wide range of frank reflections that enriched the conversation by bringing forward new perspectives on ‘old’ solutions.
First of all, Hon. Dr. Gemedo Dale, Ethiopia’s Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and Mr. Paul Mafabi, Ugandan Director of Environment Affairs, Ministry of Water and Environment clearly recognized the challenge of a massive population (Ethiopia has already surpassed citizen no. 100 million) and high and rapid population growth (Uganda is estimated to increase from the current app. 40 million to 100 million in 2050) respectively. Both saw how population issues are a challenge with regard to deforestation, ensuring livelihood etc. on the ground and could elaborate on how the countries are already making efforts to improve the situation incl. by integrating family planning services in their national adaptation plans.
Tasked with the role of following up on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development, the UN Environment was represented by Mr. Oli Brown, the coordinator for the Disasters and Conflicts Sub-‐programme. Mr. Brown was very frank in his recognition of the impact of population issues on environmental sustainability, and of the fact that solutions to both issues and their linkages needed to take place not only within but also beyond UN Environment incl. with the UN Population Fund.
And discussing the solutions
Dr. Doreen Othero; the Regional Coordinator on the Integrated Population Health and Environment project with the Lake Victoria Basin Commission under the East African Community (EAC) has worked on an integrated approach to the particular cross-‐sectoral issue of population and environment for years. She was able to elaborate on how the Lake Victoria Basin Commission has established a Minimum Package of Services for the five East African member states to integrate voluntary family planning and other SRHR services in their sustainable development frameworks.
Also in the panel was Mr. John Knox, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment, who could unfold how human rights are universal, but also subject to some extent to the interpretation of the government in a country. This was an issue raised by several participants, who found it difficult to ensure a human rights based approach in their messages to decision makers in a political context, where -‐ especially sexual and reproductive – human rights are often a source of misconceptions and political resistance.
Population issues raised:
-‐ High and rapid population growth
-‐ Migration and refugees -‐ Urbanization
Reasons behind pop. issues:
-‐ Poverty and inequality -‐ Illiteracy -‐ Conflict -‐ Lack of access to health
An alternative approach of ensuring human rights by speaking not to an explicit human rights agenda but to a development agenda was presented by some UNEA participants, exemplified by the use of ‘voluntary family planning’ and by framing issues in relation to sustainable development. But as Mr. John Knox concluded: if a country fears being held accountable to its human rights commitments, then that fear is called for.
Action points
The side event inspired for future UNEAs and UN Environment policy processes to include the following:
-‐ A human rights based approach to development including gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SDG 3.7 and 5.6);
-‐ A UNEA-‐4 resolution on Population and Environment incl. fulfillment of women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights/access to voluntary family planning, information, education and safe abortion as an environmental sustainability strategy eligible for environmental funding;
-‐ A collaboration between UNEP, UNFPA, WHO and UN Women focusing on the linkages between population dynamics and environmental sustainability. This should focus on the impact of ensuring gender equality and women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights/voluntary family planning, information, education and safe abortion on environmental sustainability efforts.
For more information, please visit the PSDA website at www.psda.international
