By the close of 2011, the global population will have reached 7 billion. A world of 7 billion people is a distinctive moment in human history which represents both an achievement as well as an unprecedented challenge for the future of the planet and its inhabitants. It presents a rare opportunity for a call-to-action to renew global commitment for a healthy and sustainable world.
As the United Nations agency responsible for marking this global milestone, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with partners, has developed an innovative platform – 7 Billion Actions – to build awareness and bring together individuals, businesses, governments, NGOs, UN agencies, media and academia to contribute to a better world for all people.
7 Billion Actions is an opportunity to showcase stories, connections and actions. The initiative will shine a bright light on the good work being done by many and encourage more to join. 7 Billion Actions will also serve as a springboard to generate collective actions that can make a huge difference for present and future generations in the key thematic areas identified as posing challenges and opportunities in an expanding world.
Themes and messages include:
Poverty and Inequality: Breaking the Cycle
Reducing poverty and inequality also slows population growth.
Women and Girls: Empowerment and Progress
Unleashing the power of women and girls will accelerate progress on all fronts.
Young People: Forging the Future
Energetic and open to new technologies, history’s largest and most interconnected population of young people is transforming global politics and culture.
Reproductive Health and Rights: The Facts of Life
Ensuring that every child is wanted, and every childbirth safe, leads to smaller and stronger families.
Environment: Healthy Planet, Healthy People
All 7 billion of us, and those who will follow, depend on the health of our planet.
Ageing: An Unprecedented Challenge
Lower fertility and longer lives add up to a new challenge worldwide: ageing populations.
Urbanization: Planning for Growth
The next two billion people will live in cities, so we need to plan for them now.
More partners can join the campaign by registering their own ongoing work and developing innovative ways to be “counted” as part of the global initiative. Following are some examples of how partners are getting involved and what new partners can do:
- Join the 7 Billion Actions partner site as a partner in one of the seven themes by linking your site to the campaign.
- Be counted in the initiative by profiling your programmes, work and success stories using the 7 Billion Actions online tools.
- Post the 7 Billion Actions logo on your website.
- Link 7 Billion and your mandate in statements and public appearances.
- Talk about 7 billion and critical population issues with your stakeholders and staff.
- Give us stories and profiles to promote through our newsroom.
- Tweet using #7Billion and link to 7 Billion Actions on Facebook to profile the initiative in your blogs and newsletter.
- Integrate the main messages of the Initiative into your new programme development.
- Make a financial contribution to support a specific component of the campaign platform or join at the overarching campaign level as a global sponsor.
For more information visit the 7 Billion Actions website
