Scientists urge Rio moves on population and consumption

More than 100 science academies around the world have called on world leaders to take action on population and consumption at the Rio+20 summit.

They say past failures on these issues threaten the natural world and prospects for future generations.
The science academies include the UK's Royal Society as well as its peers in countries at all stages of development.
Preparatory talks for next week's summit have opened but sources report slow progress on unresolved issues.
The science academies' public declaration is particularly notable as experts in both developed and developing countries have joined forces on what used to be a divisive topic.
"The overall message is that we need a renewed focus on both population and consumption - it's not enough to look at one or the other," said Prof Charles Godray from the Martin School at the University of Oxford, who chaired the process of writing the declaration.
"We need to look at both, because together they determine the footprint on the world."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18422619