Commission considers implications of demographic change on the environment
Summary
With an ever-growing population in the UK, environmental challenges that arise as a result must be tackled, as reported in ‘Demographic Change and the Environment’ (Cm. 8001).
Whilst there has been a vast amount of research conducted on population growth and ageing by relevant government Departments in relation to economic, health and social effects, there has been a gap in research regarding consequences on the environment.
Unless the issues are addressed urgently there is substantial risk of costly problems emerging in the next 40 years.
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution noted specific trends as impactful on the environment:
- projected increases in the total population;
- the changing structure of the population;
- changes in household size and composition;
- distribution of population between urban and rural areas; and
- the regional distribution of population and the regional variation in demographic change.
The Commission recommends that behaviour and consumption be controlled - a step change is needed in efforts to increase resource use efficiency.
Current trends suggest that the UK population will continue to grow – fulled by increasing life expectancy and net inward migration.
Population numbers are also rising globally, with a projected world population of nine billion predicted for 2050.
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