Christians tackle population growth and climate change

The issue of population growth in a world facing climate change will be addressed at a church-organised conference on Friday.

Keynote speaker Sir Leslie Fielding, a former diplomat and university vice-chancellor, will look at ways of balancing the needs of a growing population with the global impact of climate change on the world’s resources.

Also speaking will be Dr Graham Humphrys, who will look at trends and challenges and Dr Peter Padley who will present a population contraction scenario for the UK.

The Rev Robin Morrison, church and society adviser for the Church in Wales, said: “The rapid increase in population growth since the industrial revolution raises many questions about sustainability. Density of population causes its own pressures on transport and infrastructure.

"At times of recession, higher numbers of people dependent on welfare support puts a huge strain on Government and public services and welfare support. But alongside all of this there are growing questions about sustainability – food, water and energy security, food miles, localism versus globalism and, above all, land use.

"As biofuel production has become more popular, as one response to climate change challenges, more land is taken up which otherwise would have produced crops for food.

“These are the important issues that this conference aims to address.”