Humanity and the Environment

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Table of Contents

The causes of overpopulation and its effects
Solutions to overpopulation
References

Does the relationship between population and the environment vary by region? Yes, it does. Many key factors affect the relationship between population and the environment within a particular region, including the number of inhabitants, their living standards and needs, technological advancements, the population’s attitude and philosophy towards nature, and governmental policies (“Human Population: Environment” par. 1).

Humans usually affect the environment in a negative way. Indeed, there is a direct correlation between population growth and environmental decline. More people require more land to live on, produce more sewage and waste, and need more food to sustain themselves. Today, factory farms produce most of the food consumed around the world. These farms cause great damage to the soil, the groundwater, and the surrounding environment—all of which have been a concern for many years now (“Environmental Impact of Factory Farms” par. 6).

It seems simple: the more people there are, the greater their impact on the surrounding environment. However, other factors also play a major role. Technological development and governmental policies often make a difference. Most economically developed countries can afford to develop and enforce strict environmental control policies. However, this is not the reality for many developing countries, which rely on natural resources for sustenance. Adopting strict and costly programs to protect the environment would damage their economies and impact economic growth. Developing countries are the main offenders when it comes to damaging the surrounding environment. This is true for many African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries (“Environmental Pollution is Inevitable in Developing Countries” par. 6).

The causes of overpopulation and its effects

Overpopulation is the direct result of society’s economic and technological advances. Over time, humanity has seen an increase in birth rates and a significant decrease in death rates, especially among newborn children. Agricultural advancements allow for the production of enough food to feed the ever-increasing global population. Life expectancy has been growing progressively ever since the end of the Bubonic Plague in the 13th century (“Overpopulation” par. 3).

However, such a significant increase in population puts a great strain on the environment. Pollution and resource consumption is increasing. The resources of our planet are finite, and the most important resource of all is drinking water. At the current rate, the world will experience shortages of water within the next 50 years, which could cause a chain reaction, as agriculture is the main consumer of water. A lack of water would mean a lack of food, leading to famine (“Water Scarcity” par. 15).

Pollution is dangerous in its own right. Air pollution affects all living beings, which need to breathe air to survive. Water pollution decreases the amount of freshwater available for drinking and agriculture. Pollution also damages the ecosystem and causes unfavorable climate changes. All of these factors together may bring forth a catastrophe to our planet.

Solutions to overpopulation

There are many solutions to the overpopulation problem. Some suggest limiting how many children a family is allowed to have, while others promote family planning and effective contraception (“Overpopulation Solutions” par. 2). There are even suggestions of colonizing worlds outside of Earth as a means of solving this problem. However, it is essential to realize that none of these methods will be effective on its own. An array of solutions has to be implemented worldwide, and humanity must take a united stance on this matter. Without unity and concentrated effort, success is impossible. Global issues are called “global” for a reason—they require universal effort from every nation and every person. Any singular or independent effort is doomed to failure.