As humanity surpasses 7 billion over the next few weeks, the average percentage of unintended pregnancies worldwide is a whopping 40%, reports Pathfinder International, an organization devoted to reproductive health throughout the world. In the US, unintended pregnancies make up 50% of all pregnancies. At 7 billion people, humankind is unsustainably overpopulating the Earth, and this is reflected in rising water scarcity, loss of cropland, and destruction of vital ecosystems from human exploitation. Even though the carbon footprint of individuals varies widely from heavy in developed nations to relatively light in developing nations, every human born represents a lifetime of activities and consumption that contributes towards rising atmospheric greenhouse gases and the climate change that arises from them. What to do? Give family planning resources to the estimated 215 million women worldwide who want them but lack access. Doing so lowers birthrate, maternal and child death rates, allows women to pursue education and economic advancement, and, subsequently, slows climate change. Contributing towards organizations that provide such access is one of the best investments we can make towards a safer future.
http://www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=News_World_Population_Hits_7_Billion
