Use condoms to help climate, experts urge

updated 12:10 p.m. ET Sept. 18, 2009

LONDON - Giving contraceptives to people in developing countries could help fight climate change by slowing population growth, the prestigious British medical journal Lancet said in an editorial Friday.

More than 200 million women worldwide want contraceptives, but don't have access to them, according to Lancet. That results in 76 million unintended pregnancies every year.

If those women had access to free condoms or other birth control methods, that could slow rates of population growth, possibly easing the pressure on the environment, the editors wrote.

"There is now an emerging debate and interest about the links between population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and climate change," the commentary said.

Earlier this year, a Lancet commission on climate change and health reported its finding that "climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century."

In countries with access to condoms and other contraceptives, average family sizes tend to fall significantly within a generation. Until recently, many U.S.-funded health programs did not pay for or encourage condom use in poor countries, even to fight diseases such as AIDS.

The world's population is projected to jump to 9 billion by 2050, with more than 90 percent of that growth coming from developing countries.

It's not the first time lifestyle issues have been tied to the battle against global warming. Climate change experts have previously recommended that people cut their meat intake to slow global warming by reducing the numbers of animals using the world's resources.

The Lancet editorial cited a British report which says family planning is five times cheaper than usual technologies used to fight climate change. According to the report, each $7 spent on basic family planning would slash global carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1 ton.

Experts believe that while normal population growth is unlikely to significantly increase global warming that overpopulation in developing countries could lead to increased demand for food and shelter, which could jeopardize the environment as it struggles with global warming.

More from msnbc.com Theater troupe makes dreams come true |   Video World Blog: What's at stake in Copenhagen? What do you remember? Take our weekly quiz ‘Three Cups of Tea’ advice for Obama Will nuclear fusion fade ... or finally flare? On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change Section Front

Promises, not treaty, likely at climate summit Mass climate rally in London streets NBC World Blog: Copenhagen preview Obama shifts date of climate summit visit Study: Cooler '08 in N. America was anomaly 'Adapt or die' becomes climate mantra India joins pledges to curb carbon Penn State prof welcomes climate inquiry University in climate flap details inquiry Climate e-mails debated at House hearing Climate Change Section Front   Add Climate Change headlines to your news reader: