UN at 70: Mega-Cities, Mortality and Migration

The world's population reached 7 billion on Oct. 31, 2011. Pictured near an entrance to UN Headquarters is a banner for a global campaign by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to build awareness of the opportunities and challenges posed by this milestone. Credit: UN Photo/Rick BajornasBy Joseph ChamieUNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 2015 (IPS)As the international community marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, one question worthy of some reflection is: Is world population better or worse off demographically since the establishment of the U.N.?Some contend that the demography of today’s world population is markedly better than it was seven decades ago. Others argue that humanity is definitely worse off demographically and still others – often sceptics and cynics – feel it is neither better nor worse, but just different.This extraordinary demographic growth continues to pose serious challenges for humanity, including food production, pollution, global warming, water shortages, environmental degradation, crowding, reduced biodiversity and socio-economic development.To consider the merits of those various perspectives and distinguish between personal opinions and measurable facts, it is useful and appropriate to dispassionately examine some fundamental demographic changes that have occurred to world population since the middle of the 20th century.Perhaps the most visible demographic change is the increased size of world population, which now at 7.3 billion is ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Aid Biodiversity Climate Change Development & Aid Economy & Trade Energy Environment Food & Agriculture Gender Global Global Governance Headlines Health IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse Labour Migration & Refugees Population Source Type: news