The world is rightly divided into states for management Some have decreasing population. Ones where malnutrition occur the birth rate per capita is high. They can reject development and educationn and refuse to acknowledge anything but demand immediate and independant survival, this is luxury.

anne glen, goslar, germany

To alleviate global famine, sustainable farming needs to take place where local markets can provide for regional populations. this must be done in conjunction with the proliferation of microloans to small business owners, enough so to create economic self-sufficiency. Stop investin in AgroBusiness

Seth, DC, USA

To the Malthusians: Because of the Green Revolution of the 60s our food supplies can grow at the same rate as our population because our technology will grow. The problem is infastructure. Sure we have food for the world, but its hard to get it to someone living in the Sahara or other desolate area

Chet, Townville, SC, USA

Saving a million lives a year only exacerbates the problem. More demand for:

Land (arable & habitable), - rainforests destroyed, planet suffers.

Energy (wait til Africa & asia get air-con as standard) - price up, more oil wars

Food & water - price up, more starve

Truth hurts

Fergus, London,

People make their plans , nature made its rules. Given that few want to shed our collective and institutional arrogance its more likely nature will make the 'which species goes which species stays' choice for all of us. It remains to be seen how we want to be remembered though.

Pete, Sunnyvale, ca

Numbers. Our planet cannot sustain ever increasing populations and ever increasing demands for resources. Do not forget global warming - do not forget nutrition - but more important than that do not forget the numbers because global warming and nutrition are the symptoms - numbers is the cause.

haralambos, johannesburg, south africa

Barely keeping alive millions of sub-Saharan Africans - is that part of the solution or part of the problem?

haralambos, johannesburg, south africa

we have overpopulated the world by 4 billion. This rock cannot sustain the human germ in it's populated state. Hence we see the ever increasing amount of perverse weather, the increasing viral threats, and such. I wouldn't want to see my child starve to death especially due to religious beliefs.

sam, toronto,

I have a son in Africa feeding and hydrating kids to keep them alive. Feel free to go on moaning about global warming while serious people deal with life and death issues. And yes, we're Americans; and yes, we voted for Bush. There were not a lot of attractive alternatives. You do what you can.

Mitch, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

It is inequitable that I throw food in the garbage that has gone uneaten and at the same time millions of people in this world have ribs visible through their skin. It is inequitable that I have the choice of and means to practice birth control while other women of the world do not.

Martha, Holland, USA

Absolutely right G Webber.Michael Nazir-Ali said once-it was "self-indulgent" for couples not to have children. Perhaps these religious "leaders"-esp in the comforts of the West-need to raise thier own children in these countries to experience the intense,unapeasing suffering. Adopt!Sponser!Donate!

Dave, Cambridge, UK

After reading Loretta Napoleoni's "Rogue Economics" I feel that the money would be best spent on finding a way to get control of natural resources from the mega corporations back to the people and the (more honest and uncorrupted) local governments with a fair global law and banking system in place.

angela strehlen, new westminster, canada

Population control, contraception, personal responsibility, etc, etc. Great at solving the the long term crisis, and I would support each of them. But the queston is, what will you do TODAY to help one starving child like that is like thpictured. Is his/her life not worth the effort" What will you

gregg, Santa Rita, Guam

Ensuring that all people have access to basic nutrition, to prevent starvation, is so simple a concept and possible. I am frankly shocked that this humanitarian duty to help is compared with the climate change tax farce! Of course this is a more important issue.

Katy, Oxford, England

I have a fundamental problem with accepting that countries with starvation issues have failed to address the basic issue with the simple solution of producing less mouths to feed each year. No amount of aid will address that most basic cultural change requirement. Until then aid is pointless!

Stuart T, Plymouth, UK

People like power more than anything else in the world, including a high standard of living, concern for other folks, world peace, world hunger, eliminating AIDS, etc.

Semmelweis discovered in 1847 that hand washing saved lives. He was dismissed from the hospital.

William Wallace, Apex, North Carolina

REMEMBER LIVE AID? 22 years ago, millions saved-how wonderfully humanitarian! But then the Ethiopian population was 32 million, Famine is striking again! Now the population has risen to over 80 million. It's called compound interest.

DAVID VINTER, Louth, Lincs, , UK.

Wow! The ones on top or middle sure can rationalize! Compassion for children and for the future children that will have to pay for our selfishness and refusal to do the moral thing and loyalty to ones group instead of thinking in terms of one humanity. Also over pop. due to religious thinking.

Z Hepperly, Phnx, USA

Teach contraception worldwide. Teach women that if they have a child they cannot feed that child will starve. Show them pictures, make them cry. Teach them religion is wrong to encourage them to bring children into the world to starve. Teach reality not religious fantasy.

G Webber, Malmesbury,

I'm really concern about this famine problem. I really desire that governments overtake the best strategies in order to save their population. It's not just that poor kids always suffer the consequences of bad decisitions. However, I would like do not underestimate the problem or environment.

Luz Raquel, PUEBLA, MEXICO

It's impossible to rid of the problem unless we rid the world of currupt goverment and minister first. We have more than enough to feed the world.

Rather than lining the pocket of Dictators who'll sell the food before feeding the country's people we should be funding projects like cold fusion.

peter, Newcastle,

We have war; we have space exploration; but why don't we spend enough money saving those kids?!!

Candy, Shanghai, China

As an individual living in the most populous country, China, I have to say that governments of the famine countries have to think seriously. Personally I've never been to any of the countries, I am sure that governments together with their country people and external sources can rid the food problem

Jack , Shanghai, China

There was a time when England had great poverty itself, a mere 100 years ago and now we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world! Things can change, we need a sense of optimism not bad news all the time. The population is not the problem, its the governments leading that population.

Jennie, norhampton, uk

it is not a birth control issue. It is an issue of corrupt governments not making it possible for their people to feed themselves. Most of the people live in deserts and quite frankly wastelands. Get a irrigation program going and let them actually grow their own food. What a concept!!!!!

Gregg, Alvin, TX, USA

Do you not realise many third world countries are Catholic countries, therefore abortion & contraception is out of the question, if not a moral sin to even ask for. People can't afford basics for their children, they cannot afford to pay privately for contraception. It's a vicious cruel circle.

Helen, Dominican Republic,

You are ignoring the laws of nature by saying we couldn't be overpopulated. Once you are over populated in terms of what your environment can provide, you will see famine, which is exactly what we're seeing in Africa. Accept it, it is reality. Ingnor is the root of the word ignorance.

Nevin, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

To all of you who are proposing that the problem is due to large numbers of humans on the planet: are you being serious? These problems are due to too many people? That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Look at Africa's population density compared to every other continent.

Matt, Rochester, UK

To C. Edward Langley - yes, the UN has thought about birth control and population growth. There are UN agencies devoted to it. No simple solutions, especially with the US government not funding UN and non-governmental programmes that promote things like contraception, sex education...

Luke, Geneva, Switzerland

The best way to prevent global starvation is to quit having so many children. It seems like the only thing these people in the Third World do is have one child after another. Has the UN ever thought about handing out birth control pills to these miserable people?

C. Edward Langley, Aiken, USA

There are twice as many starving people today as 30 years ago - because there are twice as many people. If they stop having babies maybe they'll be able to feed themselves.

John Kantor, St. Petersburg, United States

Steve Tea : This is not about "countries taking responsibility for themselves" - the idea of a "country" is only 1 or 2 hundred years old. This is about our responsibility to help other humans in need - an idea that goes back millenia, but only now can be done on a global scale.

Michael Hartley, Perth, Australia

Nick, Haverfordwest. -

Catastrophic climate change would transcend all other problems - if it existed. But there is no scientific evidence for it. The IPCC Summaries which warn of its coming are written by bureaucrats, not scientists. Real scientists reports do not support their conclusions.

Peter Lloyd, BLACKER HILL, South Yorkshire

Why is ithe responsiblity of those countries to accept responsiblity for those countries which cannot or will not take responsiblity for themselves?

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Keith, good thing that ocean temperatures have actually cooled slightly over the past 50 years or so, according to the latest reports.

The Copenhagen Concensus is a cool drink of sanity in a world brimming with hysteria about climate change.

Tom, Salt Lake City, USA

Agree that population control through education is vital....BUT...we as humans have a duty to help and care for those less fortunate than ourselves, and we can. I agree with the concencus that we need to ensure best value for money and that is not with CO2 reduction right now.

Athar, London, UK

Education, birth control and access to free press those should be our priorities. Anything else is just a sticking plaster.

People will have fewer children, these will be better fed and educated. They will not stand for despots such as Mugabe etc. Sort out the root of the problem.

Anna Charlton, London, uk

Birth control and helping countries to help themselves is the answer not constant handouts

John, Manchester, England

A 5 degree temperature rise from global warming will release the oceans methane hydrate. This will cause a Permian type mass extinction of life on Earth. Just face it lots of humans have to die, get over it.

Keith bentham, wigan, uk

Forget nutrition,let's encourage these people to use birth control.
Every year we are shown these pictures of starving children and every year their mothers have a baby attached to their breast.
Isn't it common sense not to produce children you cannot feed,it's not as if birth control is hard come

Rosina, birmingham, England

There's no point in increasing food production if stupid people just keep having more kids if you cant feed the kids you've got don't have any more - population control.

dewsbry, london, uk

Compare the amount of money disccussed in the article and the obscene amount of money being wasted on the 2012 olympics just goes to show where our leader's priorities lie. The money wasted on a mere sporting tornament should be redirected to address this issue instead. Morality not triviality

Chris , Derby,

If and it is a big if the West wants to help the less fortunate any aid must be tied in with birth control healthcare and the education of girls. It is worse than useless to keep people dependent on aid but well enough to have large families. This will impact on us as well. Control numbers.

Andrew, York, UK

Every single problem that is facing Mankind today, can be cured by population control. Too many people, not enough food. Too many people, not enough clean water. Too many people, too much pollution. Need I go on? The UN needs to address only ONE issue - WORLDWIDE POPULATION CONTROL!!!!

Rise Briggs, Roseburg, United States

Unless population control is enforced, it is futile. Europeans have declined 60% in the last 50 years & will nearly half again in 40 years, outside Europe however (Middle East , Africa, other 3rd world/developing countries) are set to raise thier populations 8 fold combined. Be cruel to be kind.

Paul, Nelson, England

We are lucky to have been born in countries where we have a good chance of receiving food, shelter and a good education. For those who have not won on the life lottery, the lucky ones should remember compassion and charity.

amanda robinson, London,

I like the answers. I was surprised not to see a hundred answers of using the money to buy food and other silliness.

I would want to spend a large portion, maybe 2-3 billion on research. I know there are many hybirds strains of grain, rice and a few other commodities that can be grown faster

David, NYC, USA

Before considering exporting such a vast sum, could we all take a step back and remember that the majority of the aid recipients live in unfertile areas? Without the fundamental ability to be self sufficient, ANY amount of aid is only a short term sticking plaster on a gaping humanitarian wound.

Steve Barnes, Sunderland, England

These suggestions =good. How people can donate to environmental "charities" nd suggest that public money that could be spent on saving lives is spent on ATTEMPTING to reduce climate change I do not understand. Death because of "avoidable deficiencies" is unacceptable because we can cure them easily

Alex White, Peterborough, UK

The most valuable way to help the people in these countries is to tell them to take responsibility for themselves from now on. All aid should be banned. The purpose of aid is to help white liberals deal with their hangups. I don't care about their hangups, and I doubt the average African does either

Oliver Chettle, Bedford,

You can't change people in these countries. They have to find their own equilibrium. Leave them, let them sort out their own governments. The only effect of aid is to enrich the bad people that 'run' these countries. Save the world? how stupid when we can't even stop poverty and suffering in ours.

A, Bangkok, Thailand

Economists only seem to know what has happened, not what is going to happen. Treat this report accordingly

Chris Hurst, Wellington, New Zealand

As long as the word population is increasing by one million every 4 days, any hope of improving the situation is doomed.

Richard King, Petersfield, UK

More worrying and threatening to human life on this planet will be the implementation of Codex Alimentarius on 31st December 2009, which will outlaw herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, amino acids and other natural remedies, along with other devastating and injurious measures to health.

John Malby, Brighton, east Sussex

Oh Why oh Why, Mr Editor do you persist with the purportedly "catastrophic" effects of Global Warming?

CO2 will raise temperatures a mere one degree C. The rest is hypothesis from computer models.

Sea levels have risen since the last ice age and will continue to rise about 7inches a century

William, Edinburgh,

Climate control is like the genie no one has seen but everybody wants in the bottle.
Unfortunately , reality of life is closer and do we really need to look beyond the ozone layer etc while scores are falling prey to simple remediable issues right under our nose...

rajan, aberdeen, uk

I maintain that you each should have a look at Lomborg's work, The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World. ..It's quite telling. Read it and then we'll have this discussion.

Amanda, Denver, USA

they want to remove subsidies and tariffs that exclude developing countries from western markets.

heres an idea why don't they eat their own food and if they don't ship it around the would smaller carbon foot print
a win win

also the UK needs to become self sufficient with basic foods asap

knight, aberdeen, uk

Why oh why do politicians and the media only ever listen to scientifically and mathematically challenged economists who are incapable of comprehending that climate change AND food shortages are two aspects of the SAME holistic problem? Along with overpopulation, resource depletion, peak oil, &c, &c,

G. Green, Bristol, UK

How awfully much has been spent over the years trying to fix everything? And still it isn't fixed. Can it be? If so, someone please come up with one number: the total amount it will take. After it's spent, that's it. It's going to be harder for the 1st world to sympathise with prices going up.

Paul, Perth, Australia

There's more than enough food to go round. The problem is distribution. Killing babies and birth control is certainly not the answer.

Ted, Rome,

Ah, Bjorn Lomborg strikes again. This is utterly irrelevant to climate change. Catastrophic climate change transcends economic worth, and the sooner people realise this, the better chance we have of preventing it. We are talking about a potential end to life as we know it here. This is beyond money.

Nick, Haverfordwest, Wales

HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD??....SIMPLE..CONTRACEPTION...less babies and then more food for those who are alive would be the ONLY way we can save the world and ensure there is enough to eat and drink and also save the planet...otherwise we are doomed

ruby cooper, nice, france