Marking the occasion of the world population hitting 7 billion, we'll have two experts on hand to answer your questions: Sandeep Bathala of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, formerly director of the Sierra Club's population program, and Carmen Barroso, director of International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region. The chat will be moderated by Grist Senior Editor and Queen of Pop(ulation) Lisa Hymas.

In her opening remarks for Monday's live chat about population issues for Grist, IPPF/WHR Regional Director Carmen Barroso stated that the birth of the 7 billionth person "presents a tremendous opportunity to ensure a sustainable response in terms of the sexual and reproductive health needs of millions who lack acce

The 7th billionth person is estimated to be born today, and over the past seven days, we have been exploring the things this person will need to live a happy, healthy, and empowered life.

Maternal health is a cornerstone of quality public health, and it has been the focus of global development goals and debates since the 1980s. Nonetheless, the United Nations reports that more than 350,000 women and girls die each year during pregnancy and childbirth, with 99% of these deaths occurring in developing countries.

In several countries throughout the world, poverty, stigma, and legal restrictions severely limit people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services, such as contraception, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and counseling on options when facing an unintended pregnancy. The need couldn’t be greater. Some 2.5 million adolescents have unsafe abortions every year worldwide.

Any day now, if it hasn’t happened already, the 7 billionth baby will be born on our small planet.

While many may assume that the environmental and reproductive health movements have divergent agendas—the health of the planet vs. the health of the people—we agree on one very simple principle: everyone, whether born into the bustling streets of New York or a remote village in Nicaragua, is entitled to a set of fundamental human rights. These include the right to live in a healthy and safe environment, and the right to decide if and when to have children.

Sexuality is a natural and precious aspect of life, a fundamental part of our humanity. For people to attain the highest standard of health, they must be feel confident and safe expressing their own sexual identity – and maintain sexual and reproductive autonomy. Discrimination, stigma, fear, and violence pose real threats to many people.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread, yet least recognized, human rights violations. No matter where she or he is born, the 7 billionth person will live in an environment where violence against women is common—in fact, the World Health Organization estimates that at least 1 in 3 women will experience violence or coercion in her lifetime.

Fourteen years ago, Edilia Natera learned she was HIV-positive when her doctor ran blood tests during her pregnancy. What would be devastating news to any expecting mother was tantamount to a death sentence to Edilia.

As the planet braces for the arrival of the 7th billionth person on October 31, the media has been abuzz: what are the things we can do as a planet to speed economic development? What about climate change? Can the earth support that many people?