AFTER UNCED : THE POPULATION ISSUE REVISITED

In the aftermath of the 1992 Earth Summit (UNCED), this article reassesses population as a policy concern at the intersection of environment and development. It reviews debates over carrying capacity, consumption patterns and gendered access to services, arguing that demographic dynamics must be framed in terms of rights, capabilities and the distribution of opportunity. The paper synthesizes evidence on fertility decline, urbanization and migration, and evaluates family-planning and reproductive-health programs as development investments rather than narrow control instruments. It highlights the roles of girls’ education, child survival, and women’s agency, while cautioning against simplistic links between headcounts and environmental stress that ignore inequality and technology.

The body first revisits population–environment models and clarifies the channels through which demographic change affects land, water and energy demand. A program design section contrasts coercive approaches with client-centered, choice-enhancing services, emphasizing quality of care, method mix and continuity. The article then analyzes urban growth management, including housing, transport and sanitation planning to harness agglomeration while minimizing ecological footprints. A chapter on migration explores remittances, labor markets and social protection for mobile households. Finally, the paper proposes a policy package: invest in education and primary health, integrate reproductive health into basic services, enable women’s economic participation, and use green technologies to decouple growth from emissions. Monitoring recommendations focus on cohort-based indicators and user-reported service quality to keep programs accountable.