Coming to a Planet Near You: 3 Billion More Mouths to Feed

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/coming-to-a-planet-near-you-3-billion-more-mouths-to-feed/?ref=women

Although the dates at which the world population reaches 7 billion and 10 billion are estimates, overpopulation still presents a serious threat to the environment because the average consumption per person will increase along with the population. Iran, Mexico, and Sri Lanka have been able to decrease fertility rates and population growth by offering "family planning in a culturally sensitive way." The Obama administration has tried to finance family planning programs, "a neglected priority," but due to recent opposition, "budgets stagnated." However, USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, has reorganized, become more focused and effective, and started working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the British development agency to implement family planning programs. Child mortality has declined in Africa, but parents are still in the mindset that they must have many children  to insure against the death of some, and it may take 10 - 20 years to change parents' low "expectation of survival." While most of sub-saharan Africa faces an overpopulation problem, many developed countries face "stagnant or falling populations," which will cause future problems when the population ages and there are many more older adults and fewer young people to support them.