ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Some two billion people lack food security and 800 million are severely malnourished at a time when food production capacities in poor countries are deteriorating.

The State of World Population 2001 report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to be launched here Wednesday, states that the richest countries with 20 per cent of world population account for 86 per cent of all private consumption and the poorest 20 per cent account for just 1.3 per cent.

At the same time poverty and limited land availability are causing many poor people to increase their pressure on fragile natural resources to survive.

Since 1960 world population has doubled to 6.1 billion with growth concentrated in poorer countries, and is projected to increase to 9.3 billion by 2050.

Women account for over 50 per cent of world’s agricultural workforce, yet they are denied the right to own or inherit land.

Educating women and enabling them to have only the number of children they want would lead to smaller families and slower population growth, which would ease pressure on environment and buy time to make crucial decisions.

Water use has grown six-fold over the past 70 years. By 2050, 4.2 billion people will be living in countries that will not meet daily requirement of 50 litres of water per person.

To ensure the well-being of growing population and protect the natural world, implementing and adequately funding internationally agreed actions to reduce poverty, empower women and promote social development will be essential.

Both rising affluence-resulting in resource consumption, pollution and waste and persistent poverty contribute to environmental problems. Both are linked to population concerns.

Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use grew 12-fold in the 20th century, contributing to a global warming that will have severe environmental and social effects. Deforestation rates have reached the highest levels ever.

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), in 1994 linked environmental protection to individual decision-making, gender equality and the right to reproductive health. Implementing the ICPD recommendations for development will help defeat poverty and protect the environment, the report suggests.