Role of family planning in combating climate change

THIS discourse is a discussion of the critical intersection of climate change and public health.
Let us explore an often overlooked yet powerful solution: family planning.
By understanding how our reproductive choices impact the environment, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future while prioritising global health.
As a final-year student in the school of medicine at Copperbelt University, undertaking clinical rotations at Ndola Teaching
Hospital, I have had a first-hand glimpse into the stark realities of how climate change is impacting healthcare.
Week after week, we encounter patients suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, diarrhoea, malaria, and other ailments that are directly attributable to shifts in climate patterns.
It is natural to question what is driving the changes in our climate.
Well, there is a multitude of factors at play, including deforestation, burning fossil fuels like coal, and many more.
However, today I want to zero in on a critical issue: overpopulation. When there are more people, the demand for land, trees, and energy skyrockets, leading to increased deforestation and reliance on fossil fuels.
In rural areas of Zambia, such as Sesheke, some young girls and their mothers engage in a risky practice known as ‘fish-for-sex’ with fishermen.
This trade-off often leads to a host of health issues, including unintended pregnancies, illegal abortions, and the spread of sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), including HIV.
As someone who witnesses these challenges first-hand in the hospital, particularly in the realm of STIs, the impact is undeniable.
Recently, Zambia gained notoriety for having the second-highest rate of cervical cancer deaths and illnesses globally. However, this phenomenon is not confined to Sesheke alone; communities across Africa grapple with similar challenges.
Because of these practices, along with a lack of understanding and limited access to family planning services in rural areas, we are facing a serious problem of overpopulation.
This could lead to more harm to the environment, like cutting down more trees, destroying wildlife, depleting fish stocks, and taking over more land.
According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately 18 million acres of forest are lost annually world-wide due to agricultural expansion driven by population growth (FAO, 2022).
With World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reporting that over 3,000 species in Africa are threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction caused by human activities (WWF, 2022), the urgency of addressing overpopulation and its environmental impacts cannot be overstated.
Furthermore, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that deforestation accounts for approximately 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually.
With population growth exacerbating deforestation rates, the carbon emissions from land-use change are projected to increase substantially in the coming decades (IPCC, 2021).
If we lose most of our trees, just think about how much carbon dioxide would escape into the atmosphere, worsening global warming.
Forests play a crucial role in our environment by storing carbon, regulating climate, and purifying water.
When we cut down trees, we risk losing these important services, which ultimately affects everyone’s quality of life. While cutting trees for timber and wood might bring short-term benefits, the long-term effects, like lower agricultural productivity and higher healthcare expenses, can be devastating.
Thus expanding access to family planning and sexual education in rural areas is vital.
It empowers individuals to make informed reproductive choices, curbing the strain of overpopulation on resources and mitigating environmental degradation.
Additionally, it reduces STI transmission and unintended pregnancies, enhancing child and maternal health outcomes, fostering healthier communities and sustainable development.
As a medical professional and climate change specialist, I have come to understand the interconnectedness of population, health, environment, and development.
When one aspect is affected, it impacts the others. That is why it is crucial for every sector to participate in combating climate change.
If we ensure a healthy environment, we will encounter fewer health issues in hospitals and have a healthier population to contribute to environmental development.
As we confront the urgent challenges posed by climate change, we must ask ourselves: will we remain passive observers, or will we seize the opportunity to make meaningful change?
The choice is clear. Together, let us embark on a journey towards a greener, healthier world. Are you ready to take the first step?
The author is a climate change specialist and final-year student in the school of medicine at Copperbelt University.