Demography and Planetary Health Convening Agenda

Speaker: TBD

Overview: Establishing Demographic Trends and Projections

Speaker

Phil Anglewicz, Director, William H. Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health

What Do We Know About Demographic Trends?

Moderator

Phil Anglewicz, Director, William H. Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health

Panel discussants contribute additional depth on key aspects. Panel might cover topics including: how population size is declining in many parts of the world and rising in others; the pace of urbanization and population aging and where these trends are most pronounced; the degree of certainty regarding population projections out to 2100 and the likely trajectory of global human population post 2100 based on current trends.

Panelists

Lubov Zeifman Population Affairs Officer, UN Population Division
Apoorva Jadhav Demographic Futures Lead, William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health and Senior Fellow, PRB
Alex Ezeh Dornsife Professor of Global  Health and Associate Dean for Global Health and Human Rights, Drexel University

Geopolitical Implications of Population Trends

In this session, we will discuss examples of the geopolitical implications of current and future population trends. For example, how do population decline or rapidly growing populations both impact nation-states and the balance of power? What are the conditions for addressing the geopolitical impact of global population changes?

Moderator:

Koko Warner

Director, Penn International Climate Observatory, University of Pennsylvania

Panelists

Jack Goldstone Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University and Senior Fellow, Mercatus Center
Monica Duffy Toft Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies, Tufts University
C. Tadeusz Kugler Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Roger Williams University

Economic Implications and Population Trends

In this session, we explore the economic implications of population growth, decline, aging, and urbanization, providing a range of perspectives on the economic implications of these trends. Speakers will discuss examples of nations and regions navigating these demographic changes, considering the interlinks between population trends, economic changes, and economic development.

Moderator

Carolina Cardona, Health economist and Assistant Scientist, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Panelists

Melissa Kearney Gilbert F. Schaefer Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame
Wang Feng Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of California, Irvine
Mahesh Karra Associate Professor of Population and Family Health, Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

Environmental Implications of Population Trends

This session considers the major demographic drivers of changes to Earth’s natural systems, and whether the Earth crisis is becoming an important driver of demographic change. The discussion also considers the environmental threats and opportunities associated with human population trends that need to be managed: For example: Can we optimize regeneration of the biosphere in areas where depopulation is occurring? How do timescales of demographic trends compare to timescales relevant to solving Earth’s systems changes?

Moderator

Ben Zaitchik
Associate Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health and Chair and Professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University

Panelists

Deborah Balk Director, CUNY Institute for Demographic Research
Kevin Kuruc Assistant Professor of Economics, Middlebury College
Brian O’Neill Scientist & Professor, Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland in College Park

Communicating about Population Trends and Implications Across Sectors and Audiences

This session discusses how we can most effectively discuss population dynamics and trends, especially with those who don’t work in public health/demography. The session will cover how important it is to effectively communicate the importance of population trends and these related multi-dimensional issues to a wide audience, with perspectives on how can researchers, practitioners, and media can translate findings into concrete, actionable insights that experts, media, policymakers, and the public can understand and utilize.

Moderator

Stephanie Desmon

Co-host and producer, Public Health on Call podcast, Communications Director Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Speakers

Jennifer Sciubba President and CEO, Population Reference Bureau
Seth Borenstein Science Writer, Associated Press

What’s Happening: Country and City Examples

This session explores case examples and existing evidence regarding what we know about how countries are, or are not, addressing or planning for shifting economic and geopolitical realities due to changing demographic and environmental drivers. This panel focuses the discussion on the economic and geopolitical impacts of urbanization and migration driven by shifting demography and environmental change.

Moderator

Ruth Braunstein
Professor of Sociology, SNF Agora Institute

Panelists

Elizabeth Fussell Professor of Population Studies and Environment and Society, Brown University
Dr. Sathyanarayanan (Sathya) Doraiswamy Senior Programme Advisor, Population, Development & Data, United Nations Population Fund
Clive Mutunga Founder, CHED Solutions
Fernando Riosmena Fellow, Institute of Behavioral Science Professor, Sociology and Demography, University of Texas at San Antonio Ph.D., Demography, University of Pennsylvania

What’s Happening: Reproductive Health and Rights, Demography, and the Environment

This session explores examples and evidence regarding family planning, health, and environmental interventions. The session will include discussion of the links between population dynamics, maternal health and reproductive rights, demographic policies/incentives, and environmental outcomes.

Moderator

Rachel Marcus
Executive Director, Planetary Health Alliance and the Institute for Planetary Health

Panelists

Nandita Bajaj Executive Director, Population Balance
Kathleen Mogelgaard President and CEO, Population Institute
Sono Aibe Principal Consultant, CHED Solutions

Research Agenda Breakouts – Participant Discussions

What have we heard? What are the key research gaps that have been identified? What are other key takeaways from these two days? This session is in plenary, but with input from: 1) participation from small groups across the room during the session, 2) rapporteurs reporting out from the prior breakouts areas, and 3) the other inputs captured throughout the event.

Grab your coffee as you head back to the room.