“These are extraordinary times…Those who came before us didn’t know about this problem, and those who come after will be powerless to do anything about it, but for us there’s still time. We’ve got to go out there and get a move on…”
Leo Murray, creator of the “Wake Up, Freak Out – then Get a Grip” animation calling for climate change action
The current debate about the linkages between population dynamics and climate change are often limited to arguments about size. This results in an incomplete understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change.
The relationship between population size/growth and greenhouse gas emissions is complex! It needs to be assessed within the context of broader developmental trends, including increased consumption and levels of urbanisation.
A primary goal of this LEAD training is to use global and particularly African examples to illustrate and explore the complex linkages between people, climate change and development. This will be done from the Population, Environment and Development (PED) nexus perspective and within the wider context of attaining sustainable human development.
Challenges and opportunities around population, climate change and development will be explored using the following themes:
- Ecosystems: conservation and conflict with nature’s life support
- Food Security: managing risks for vulnerable communities
- Human Settlements: implications for community resilience
- Transport: sustainable solutions for society and business
- Industrial Development: impact on communities and environment
Step by step, participants will acquire the knowledge and skills required to make sense of complex scenarios, and identify ways of helping people to meet their needs in more sustainable ways.
For an introduction to current global population trends and their development impacts, take a look at this excellent TED talk by global health expert Hans Rosling: