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GENERAL
A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I)
12 August 1992
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
(Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992)
Chapter 5
DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
5.1. This chapter contains the following programme areas:
(a) Developing and disseminating knowledge concerning the links
between demographic trends and factors and sustainable development;
(b) Formulating integrated national policies for environment
and development, taking into account demographic trends and factors;
(c) Implementing integrated, environment and development
programmes at the local level, taking into account demographic trends
and factors.
PROGRAMME AREAS
A. Developing and disseminating knowledge concerning
the links between demographic trends and factors
and sustainable development
Basis for action
5.2. Demographic trends and factors and sustainable development have
a synergistic relationship.
5.3. The growth of world population and production combined with
unsustainable consumption patterns places increasingly severe stress on
the life-supporting capacities of our planet. These interactive
processes affect the use of land, water, air, energy and other
resources. Rapidly growing cities, unless well-managed, face major
environmental problems. The increase in both the number and size of
cities calls for greater attention to issues of local government and
municipal management. The human dimensions are key elements to
consider in this intricate set of relationships and they should be
adequately taken into consideration in comprehensive policies for
sustainable development. Such policies should address the linkages of
demographic trends and factors, resource use, appropriate technology
dissemination, and development. Population policy should also
recognize the role played by human beings in environmental and
development concerns. There is a need to increase awareness of this
issue among decision makers at all levels and to provide both better
information on which to base national and international policies and a
framework against which to interpret this information.
5.4. There is a need to develop strategies to mitigate both the
adverse impact on the environment of human activities and the adverse
impact of environmental change on human populations. The world's
population is expected to exceed 8 billion by the year 2020. Sixty
per cent of the world's population already live in coastal areas, while
65 per cent of cities with
populations above 2.5 million are located along the world coasts;
several of them are already at or below the present sea level.
Objectives
5.5. The following objectives should be achieved as soon as
practicable:
(a) To incorporate demographic trends and factors in the global
analysis of environment and development issues;
(b) To develop a better understanding of the relationships
among demographic dynamics, technology, cultural behaviour, natural
resources and life support systems;
(c) To assess human vulnerability in ecologically sensitive
areas and centres of population to determine the priorities for action
at all levels, taking full account of community defined needs.
Activities
Research on the interaction between demographic trends and
factors and sustainable development
5.6. Relevant international, regional and national institutions should
consider undertaking the following activities:
(a) Identifying the interactions between demographic processes,
natural resources and life support systems, bearing in mind regional
and subregional variations deriving from, inter alia, different levels
of development;
(b) Integrating demographic trends and factors into the ongoing
study of environmental change, using the expertise of international,
regional and national research networks and of local communities,
first, to study the human dimensions of environmental change and,
second, to identify vulnerable areas;
(c) Identifying priority areas for action and developing
strategies and programmes to mitigate the adverse impact of
environmental change on human populations, and vice versa.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
5.7. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual
cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be
about $10 million from the international community on grant or
concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of-magnitude
estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs
and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will
depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes
Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Strengthening research programmes that integrate population,
environment and development
5.8. In order to integrate demographic analysis into a broader social
science perspective on environment and development, interdisciplinary
research should be increased. International institutions and networks
of experts should enhance their scientific capacity, taking full
account of community experience and knowledge, and should disseminate
the experience gained in multidisciplinary approaches and in linking
theory to action.
5.9. Better modelling capabilities should be developed, identifying
the range of possible outcomes of current human activities, especially
the interrelated impact of demographic trends and factors, per capita
resource use and wealth distribution, as well as the major migration
flows that may be expected with increasing climatic events and
cumulative environmental change that may destroy people's local
livelihoods.
(c) Developing information and public awareness
5.10. Socio-demographic information should be developed in a suitable
format for interfacing with physical, biological and socio-economic
data. Compatible spatial and temporal scales, cross-country and
time-series information, as well as global behavioural indicators
should be developed, learning from local communities' perceptions and
attitudes.
5.11. Awareness should be increased at all levels concerning the need
to optimize the sustainable use of resources through efficient resource
management, taking into account the development needs of the
populations of developing countries.
5.12. Awareness should be increased of the fundamental linkages
between improving the status of women and demographic dynamics,
particularly through women's access to education, primary and
reproductive health care programmes, economic independence and their
effective, equitable participation in all levels of decision-making.
5.13. Results of research concerned with sustainable development
issues should be disseminated through technical reports, scientific
journals, the media, workshops, forums or other means so that the
information can be used by decision makers at all levels and increase
public awareness.
(d) Developing and/or enhancing institutional capacity and
collaboration
5.14. Collaboration and exchange of information should be increased
between research institutions and international, regional and national
agencies and all other sectors (including the private sector, local
communities, non-governmental organizations and scientific
institutions) from both the industrialized and developing countries, as
appropriate.
5.15. Efforts should be intensified to enhance the capacities of
national and local governments, the private sector and non-governmental
organizations in developing countries to meet the growing needs for
improved management of rapidly growing urban areas.
B. Formulating integrated national policies for
environment and development, taking into
account demographic trends and factors
Basis for action
5.16. Existing plans for sustainable development have generally
recognized demographic trends and factors as elements that have a
critical influence on consumption patterns, production, lifestyles and
long-term sustainability. But in future, more attention will have to
be given to these issues in general policy formulation and the design
of development plans. To do this, all countries will have to improve
their own capacities to assess the environment and development
implications of their demographic trends and factors. They will also
need to formulate and implement policies and action programmes where
appropriate. Policies should be designed to address the consequences
of population growth built into population momentum, while at the same
time incorporating measures to bring about demographic transition.
They should combine environmental concerns and population issues within
a holistic view of development whose primary goals include the
alleviation of poverty; secure livelihoods; good health; quality of
life; improvement of the status and income of women and their access to
schooling and professional training, as well as fulfilment of their
personal aspirations; and empowerment of individuals and communities.
Recognizing that large increases in the size and number of cities will
occur in developing countries under any likely population scenario,
greater attention should be given to preparing for the needs, in
particular of women and children, for improved municipal management and
local government.
Objective
5.17. Full integration of population concerns into national planning,
policy and decision-making processes should continue. Population
policies and programmes should be considered, with full recognition of
women's rights.
Activities
5.18. Governments and other relevant actors could, inter alia,
undertake the following activities, with appropriate assistance from
aid agencies, and report on their status of implementation to the
International Conference on Population and Development to be held in
1994, especially to its committee on population and environment.
(a) Assessing the implications of national demographic trends and
factors
5.19. The relationships between demographic trends and factors and
environmental change and between environmental degradation and the
components of demographic change should be analysed.
5.20. Research should be conducted on how environmental factors
interact with socio-economic factors as a cause of migration.
5.21. Vulnerable population groups (such as rural landless workers,
ethnic minorities, refugees, migrants, displaced people, women heads of
household) whose changes in demographic structure may have specific
impacts on sustainable development should be identified.
5.22. An assessment should be made of the implications of the age
structure of the population on resource demand and dependency burdens,
ranging from educational expenses for the young to health care and
support for the elderly, and on household income generation.
5.23. An assessment should also be made of national population
carrying capacity in the context of satisfaction of human needs and
sustainable development, and special attention should be given to
critical resources, such as water and land, and environmental factors,
such as ecosystem health and biodiversity.
5.24. The impact of national demographic trends and factors on the
traditional livelihoods of indigenous groups and local communities,
including changes in traditional land use because of internal
population pressures, should be studied.
(b) Building and strengthening a national information base
5.25. National databases on demographic trends and factors and
environment should be built and/or strengthened, disaggregating data by
ecological region (ecosystem approach), and population/environment
profiles should be established by region.
5.26. Methodologies and instruments should be developed to identify
areas where sustainability is, or may be, threatened by the
environmental effects of demographic trends and factors, incorporating
both current and projected demographic data linked to natural
environmental processes.
5.27. Case-studies of local level responses by different groups to
demographic dynamics should be developed, particularly in areas subject
to environmental stress and in deteriorating urban centres.
5.28. Population data should be disaggregated by, inter alia, sex and
age in order to take into account the implications of the gender
division of labour for the use and management of natural resources.
(c) Incorporating demographic features into policies and plans
5.29. In formulating human settlements policies, account should be
taken of resource needs, waste production and ecosystem health.
5.30. The direct and induced effects of demographic changes on
environment and development programmes should, where appropriate, be
integrated, and the impact on demographic features assessed.
5.31. National population policy goals and programmes that are
consistent with national environment and development plans for
sustainability and in keeping with the freedom, dignity and personally
held values of individuals should be established and implemented.
5.32. Appropriate socio-economic policies for the young and the
elderly, both in terms of family and state support systems, should be
developed.
5.33. Policies and programmes should be developed for handling the
various types of migrations that result from or induce environmental
disruptions, with special attention to women and vulnerable groups.
5.34. Demographic concerns, including concerns for environmental
migrants and displaced people, should be incorporated in the programmes
for sustainable development of relevant international and regional
institutions.
5.35. National reviews should be conducted and the integration of
population policies in national development and environment strategies
should be monitored nationally.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
5.36. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total
annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this
programme to be about $90 million from the international community on
grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and
order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by
Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are
non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies
and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Raising awareness of demographic and sustainable development
interactions
5.37. Understanding of the interactions between demographic trends and
factors and sustainable development should be increased in all sectors
of society. Stress should be placed on local and national action.
Demographic and sustainable development education should be coordinated
and integrated in both the formal and non-formal education sectors.
Particular attention should be given to population literacy programmes,
notably for women. Special emphasis should be placed on the linkage
between these programmes, primary environmental care and the provision
of primary health care and services.
(c) Strengthening institutions
5.38. The capacity of national, regional and local structures to deal
with issues relating to demographic trends and factors and sustainable
development should be enhanced. This would involve strengthening the
relevant bodies responsible for population issues to enable them to
elaborate policies consistent with the national prospects for
sustainable development. Cooperation among government, national
research institutions, non-governmental organizations and local
communities in assessing problems and evaluating policies should also
be enhanced.
5.39. The capacity of the relevant United Nations organs,
organizations and bodies, international and regional intergovernmental
bodies, non-governmental organizations and local communities should, as
appropriate, be enhanced to help countries develop sustainable
development policies on request and, as appropriate, provide assistance
to environmental migrants and displaced people.
5.40. Inter-agency support for national sustainable development
policies and programmes should be improved through better coordination
of population and environment activities.
(d) Promoting human resource development
5.41. The international and regional scientific institutions should
assist Governments, upon request, to include concerns regarding the
population/environment interactions at the global, ecosystem and
micro-levels in the training of demographers and population and
environment specialists. Training should include research on linkages
and ways to design integrated strategies.
C. Implementing integrated environment and development
programmes at the local level, taking into account
demographic trends and factors
Basis for action
5.42. Population programmes are more effective when implemented
together with appropriate cross-sectoral policies. To attain
sustainability at the local level, a new framework is needed that
integrates demographic trends and factors with such factors as
ecosystem health, technology and human settlements, and with
socio-economic structures and access to resources. Population
programmes should be consistent with socio-economic and environmental
planning. Integrated sustainable development programmes should closely
correlate action on demographic trends and factors with resource
management activities and development goals that meet the needs of the
people concerned.
Objective
5.43. Population programmes should be implemented along with natural
resource management and development programmes at the local level that
will ensure sustainable use of natural resources, improve the quality
of life of the people and enhance environmental quality.
Activities
5.44. Governments and local communities, including community-based
women's organizations and national non-governmental organizations,
consistent with national plans, objectives, strategies and priorities,
could, inter alia, undertake the activities set out below with the
assistance and cooperation of international organizations, as
appropriate. Governments could share their experience in the
implementation of Agenda 21 at the International Conference on
Population and Development, to be held in 1994, especially its
committee on population and environment.
(a) Developing a framework for action
5.45. An effective consultative process should be established and
implemented with concerned groups of society where the formulation and
decision-making of all components of the programmes are based on a
nationwide consultative process drawing on community meetings, regional
workshops and national seminars, as appropriate. This process should
ensure that views of women and men on needs, perspective and
constraints are equally well reflected in the design of programmes, and
that solutions are rooted in specific experience. The poor and
underprivileged should be priority groups in this process.
5.46. Nationally determined policies for integrated and multifaceted
programmes, with special attention to women, to the poorest people
living in critical areas and to other vulnerable groups should be
implemented, ensuring the involvement of groups with a special
potential to act as agents for change and sustainable development.
Special emphasis should be placed on those programmes that achieve
multiple objectives, encouraging sustainable economic development, and
mitigating adverse impacts of demographic trends and factors, and
avoiding long-term environmental damage. Food security, access to
secure tenure, basic shelter, and essential infrastructure, education,
family welfare, women's reproductive health, family credit schemes,
reforestation programmes, primary environmental care, women's
employment should, as appropriate, be included among other factors.
5.47. An analytical framework should be developed to identify
complementary elements of sustainable development policies as well as
the national mechanisms to monitor and evaluate their effects on
population dynamics.
5.48. Special attention should be given to the critical role of women
in population/environment programmes and in achieving sustainable
development. Projects should take advantage of opportunities to link
social, economic and environmental gains for women and their families.
Empowerment of women is
essential and should be assured through education, training and
policies to accord and improve women's right and access to assets,
human and civil rights, labour-saving measures, job opportunities and
participation in decision-making. Population/environment programmes
must enable women to mobilize themselves to alleviate their burden and
improve their capacity to participate in and benefit from
socio-economic development. Specific measures should be undertaken to
close the gap between female and male illiteracy rates.
(b) Supporting programmes that promote changes in demographic trends
and factors towards sustainability
5.49. Reproductive health programmes and services, should, as
appropriate, be developed and enhanced to reduce maternal and infant
mortality from all causes and enable women and men to fulfil their
personal aspirations in terms of family size, in a way in keeping with
their freedom and dignity and personally held values.
5.50. Governments should take active steps to implement, as a matter
of urgency, in accordance with country-specific conditions and legal
systems, measures to ensure that women and men have the same right to
decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their
children, to have access to the information, education and means, as
appropriate, to enable them to exercise this right in keeping with
their freedom, dignity and personally held values taking into account
ethical and cultural considerations.
5.51. Governments should take active steps to implement programmes to
establish and strengthen preventive and curative health facilities that
include women-centred, women-managed, safe and effective reproductive
health care and affordable, accessible services, as appropriate, for
the responsible planning of family size, in keeping with freedom,
dignity and personally held values and taking into account ethical and
cultural considerations. Programmes should focus on providing
comprehensive health care, including pre-natal care, education and
information on health and responsible parenthood and should provide the
opportunity for all women to breast-feed fully, at least during the
first four months post-partum. Programmes should fully support women's
productive and reproductive roles and well being, with special
attention to the need for providing equal and improved health care for
all children and the need to reduce the risk of maternal and child
mortality and sickness.
5.52. Consistent with national priorities, culturally based
information and education programmes that transmit reproductive health
messages to men and women that are easily understood should be
developed.
(c) Creating appropriate institutional conditions
5.53. Constituencies and institutional conditions to facilitate the
implementation of demographic activities should, as appropriate, be
fostered. This requires support and commitment from political,
indigenous, religious and
traditional authorities, the private sector and the national scientific
community. In developing these appropriate institutional conditions,
countries should closely involve established national machinery for
women.
5.54. Population assistance should be coordinated with bilateral and
multilateral donors to ensure that population needs and requirements of
all developing countries are addressed, fully respecting the overall
coordinating responsibility and the choice and strategies of the
recipient countries.
5.55. Coordination should be improved at local and international
levels. Working practices should be enhanced in order to make optimum
use of resources, draw on collective experience and improve the
implementation of programmes. UNFPA and other relevant agencies should
strengthen the coordination of international cooperation activities
with recipient and donor countries in order to ensure that adequate
funding is available to respond to growing needs.
5.56. Proposals should be developed for local, national and
international population/environment programmes in line with specific
needs for achieving sustainability. Where appropriate, institutional
changes must be implemented so that old-age security does not entirely
depend on input from family members.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
5.57. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total
annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this
programme to be about $7 billion, including about $3.5 billion from the
international community on grant or concessional terms. These are
indicative and order-of-magnitude estimates only and have not been
reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including
any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the
specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for
implementation.
(b) Research
5.58. Research should be undertaken with a view to developing specific
action programmes; it will be necessary to establish priorities between
proposed areas of research.
5.59. Socio-demographic research should be conducted on how
populations respond to a changing environment.
5.60. Understanding of socio-cultural and political factors that can
positively influence acceptance of appropriate population policy
instruments should be improved.
5.61. Surveys of changes in needs for appropriate services relating to
responsible planning of family size, reflecting variations among
different socio-economic groups and variations in different
geographical regions should be undertaken.
(c) Human resource development and capacity-building
5.62. The areas of human resource development and capacity-building,
with particular attention to the education and training of women, are
areas of critical importance and are a very high priority in the
implementation of population programmes.
5.63. Workshops to help programme and projects managers to link
population programmes to other development and environmental goals
should be conducted.
5.64. Educational materials, including guides/workbooks for planners
and decision makers and other actors of
population/environment/development programmes, should be developed.
5.65. Cooperation should be developed between Governments, scientific
institutions and non-governmental organizations within the region, and
similar institutions outside the region. Cooperation with local
organizations should be fostered in ordered to raise awareness, engage
in demonstration projects and report on the experience gained.
5.66. The recommendations contained in this chapter should in no way
prejudice discussions at the International Conference on Population and
Development in 1994, which will be the appropriate forum for dealing
with population and development issues, taking into account the
recommendations of the International Conference on Population, held in
Mexico City in 1984, 1/ and the Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women, 2/ adopted by the World Conference to Review and
Appraise the Achievements of the United Decade for Women: Equality,
Development and Peace, held in Nairobi in 1985.
Notes
1/ Report of the International Conference on Population,
Mexico City, 6-14 August 1984 (United Nations publication, Sales No.
E.84.XIII.8),
chap. I.
2/ Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the
Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality,
Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.84.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A.
END OF CHAPTER 5
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