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Rapid response to:

Editorials

Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health

BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1734 (Published 06 September 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;374:n1734

Linked News

Climate crisis: Over 200 health journals urge world leaders to tackle “catastrophic harm”

Rapid Response:

Re: Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health

Dear Editor

One of the actions that must be taken to reduce the climate disaster is often omitted for political and economic and other reasons.

That action is the reduction in human population size, which is almost 8 billion and still rising. Human population growth and parallel increases in consumption are the root cause of climate change.

Population growth can easily and cost effectively be addressed through free access to contraception and financial incentives for smaller families. The resulting stability of population would result in less construction and deforestation and have a huge impact on climate change.

As health professionals I hope you acknowledge and promote this.

Competing interests: No competing interests

08 September 2021
Jonathan Austen
Environmental campaigner
Basingstoke Hampshire