Excessive consumption making 2050 climate target difficult to reach

Population growth is a topic that seldom makes it into the discussion floor of climate talks, because many developing (poorer) nations fear an inference of birth control.

Population growth in many poor nations is quite often exaggerated so that they may qualify for a larger lot of emissions.

The real issue is that the world's population is expected to increase by about 3 billion people in 40 years. Countries like Africa that have rapidly growing populations do not emit as much greenhouse gas such as the U.S.

However, according to David Satterthwaite, of the International Institute for Environment and Development, "It's consumption that drives dangerous climate change, not population."

There are a multitude of factors that are going into factoring climate cuts such as, should growing populations have more emissions rights, should a nation with greater heating or cooling demands not face as many cuts, also should the distance between metropolitan areas have an impact.

With the December Copenhagen conference approaching and a commitment of the G8 nations to cut emissions by 80 percent, one thing is certain questions must be answered and these topics must find resolution.

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Author: Caitlin Martinez

Photo: Sreejithk/flickr