18 November 2009: The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched The State of World Population 2009 Report, which is sub-titled “Facing a Changing World: Women, Population and Climate Change.”
The report focuses on the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable, such as the 1.5 billion poor people living under US$1 dollar a day, and on poor women who are most likely to lose their livelihoods and to die of natural disasters. The report stresses that policies, programmes and international agreements should take into account the special and unique needs and potential of women as agents for change. It argues that access to reproductive health services, including family planning and lower fertility rates, can contribute to climate mitigation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The report also focuses on investments that can empower women and girls, such as education and health interventions, which can reduce poverty while contributing to addressing climate change. [UNFPA Press Release][UNFPA State of the World Population 2009]