than 1 billion. It is now over 5 billion. There will be more than 6. 25 billion people by the end of this centurv. Even though world population growth rates are slowing, the annual increase is still currently about 90 million People. Even on the more optimistic scenarios, we shall see a doubling of the world's population by the year 2050, and about 90 per cent of this increase will be in the developing world. This will place formidable demands on the resources of those countries. JVM/10 A/S-18/PV. 4 41 (Mrs. Chalker, United Kingdom) To ignore population growth is to hasten environmental degradation, and within our human resource and health programmes we must all make a supreme and urgent effort to help provide parents with education about the impact of population growth on their own land and society, with knowledge and with the means to decide voluntarily their family size. Thirdly, I turn to the environment. I see the 1990s as the decade in which we must work for the environment, and I mean "must" because it is a question of survival. We all have a stake in our world. Environmental problems know no geographical boundaries; neither should their solutions. These solutions will demand international ingenuity and enterprise. Western Governments and industry have a responsibility to offer a lead and to help the developing countries both with advice and with funds in addressing issues such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) substitution. In the same spirit it is vital to pay more attention to measures that will support energy efficiency and conservation. Britain will play its role in developing and marketing sustainable technologies, especially those concerned with cleaner power generation and more efficient power transmission and distribution. The concept of sustainable development applies to the activities of us all, 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the growing world population and its implications on the environment, with a focus on the need for sustainable development and international cooperation. The author emphasizes the importance of addressing population growth, environmental degradation, and resource management, highlighting the need for education, technological innovation, and international cooperation.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Education, Health