Bengaluru: On July 11, the world celebrates World Population Day. The day emphasises the significance of the world’s population and the pressing need to deal with the problems brought on by population expansion. The day has developed into a significant yearly occasion for governments, non-governmental organisations, and people to raise awareness of population issues and take action.
The origins of World Population Day
The United Nations created World Population Day in 1989 to increase public awareness of issues related to population around the world. World Population Day was first proposed by Dr. K. C. Zachariah since the world population topped five billion on July 11, 1987. It was initially started as a strategy to draw attention to population-related concerns that are urgent, like poverty, environmental damage, and inequality.
World Population Day 2023’s theme
“Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality: Lifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock Our World’s Infinite Possibilities” is the subject of World Population Day in 2023.
World Population Day: What Does It Mean?
World Population Day provides an occasion to highlight and honour the numerous beneficial demographic shifts that have taken place over the years. For instance, since World Population Day was first observed in 1989, the global population has increased by more than a billion. The worldwide fertility rate has decreased as a result, from 5 children per woman in 1989 to 2.5 children per woman presently. The number of people with at least some secondary education has more than doubled since 1989, indicating improvements in educational levels.
By 2050, the UN predicts that technology and education will have contributed to a 20% reduction in the rate of population growth worldwide. The UN wants to build a sustainable future for everyone, as envisioned by Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
We need to cooperate to make sure that everyone has access to high-quality education and technology in order to contribute to the realisation of a sustainable future. This entails granting access to necessities like clean water and sanitary facilities as well as funding possibilities for girls’ and young women’s education. Inequality and poverty can both be significantly reduced by technology; for instance, developments in digital technologies have made it possible for people to access educational opportunities they may not have previously had.