The relationship between CO2 growth rates and world population growth and its implications for climate change

In the face of increasing CO2 emissions and the need to rapidly reduce them to mitigate climate change, this master thesis takes a closer look at the population variable to understand how it affects CO2 emissions. A statistical analysis is carried out which examines the influence of the variables population, GDP per capita and energy use per capita on the variable of CO2 emissions. Based on the assumption made in this work that pure population figures and CO2 emissions draw a too simplified picture of the subject, the statistical analysis is embedded in a socio-political and historical consideration of the connections between environmental destruction and population debates. An attempt is made to understand the possible societal impact of demands for reproductive health in the context of climate change. A look is taken at the history of population control programs, but also at modern international family planning programs. At the same time, regional differences between population figures and CO2 emissions growth are examined. The statistical analysis, considered in the socio-historical framework of the reviewed literature, shows that several factors have an impact on CO2 emissions, with the population variable being the most difficult and slowest to influence and not offering a quick, human rights- friendly route to CO2 reduction.