Climate Change, Health, and Population Dynamics: A View from Tanzania

“One progressive way of helping at-risk people adapt to climate change is to improve their health. Voluntary family planning, which greatly improves women’s health, could play a part in a rights-based strategy that advances adaptive capacity and women’s health simultaneously. In addition, more scientists and governments have made the connection between population growth and global carbon emissions and have recognized the multiple benefits that family planning provides…

Tanzania is acutely vulnerable to climate change: mean annual precipitation has decreased significantly across the country from 1960 to the present, and seasonal rainfall patterns have already changed. With 80% of the population relying on agriculture and pastoralism for their income, livelihoods, and employment, ensuring that the country and its people are able to adapt to a changing climate is essential. And family planning is a critical component of building resilience.”