Better medical facilities mean that illnesses that took thousands of lives are now being cured. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0-asloaded{max-width:336px!important;max-height:280px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_19',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Many farmers will no longer be able to sustain their crop yields since they will not have enough water supply anymore. Many people are attracted to the economic opportunities that . Visit the burning of fossil fuels, agricultural activities, and urbanization pages to learn more about how processes and phenomena related to the size and distribution of human populations affect global climate and ecosystems. 2023. With extraterrestrial settlement like colonizing Mars, we could move part of our population to other planets or space habitats and thus could mitigate the overpopulation issue. It is now possible for partners who are unable to conceive to have a baby after they undergo fertility treatment. Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? High costs of living. Ultimately his theories say that the worlds food supply will inevitably become inadequate for feeding the general population, whose numbers would continue to swell until famine, disease epidemics, war, or other calamities took root. Social changes must begin with attempts to increase awareness of the problem. Why Overpopulation Is A Problem: Causes, Consequences And What We Can Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Consumption varies greatly between countries, and wealth plays a crucial role. In reality, rising birth rates and population booms are components of a four-step process called the demographic transition, which the Earth is currently undergoing. Today, cities worldwide are at the center of the overpopulation problem, and theyre continuing to grow. Ultimately, a balance was established, with fewer deaths and births, creating a stable population growth rate and signifying the attainment of the fourth and final stage of the demographic transition. In most of Europe, fertility rates have remained beneath replacement level for decades. Overpopulation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions - Green Coast If an area is used too extensively for farming or other purposes, it is likely to lose its fertility and thus this will lead to desertification. Advances in modern medicine and increasing access to food and clean water are reasons life expectancy has continued to grow. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This also leads to a local overpopulation of certain areas. As unemployment goes up in an area, so does the crime rate. Depletion of natural resources. Globally, the average carbon footprint is close to 4 tons, while the average carbon footprint for a person in the U.S. is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Human Impacts on the Environment Human overpopulation Problems are not limited to society alone. 10 Effects of Overpopulation and its Impact on Human Life Today, we are not sharing Earth fairly with the millions of other plant, animal, and aquatic species that call it home. More people means an increased demand for food, water, housing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and more. Besides, people there usually get married at an early age to increase the chances of having more children (Jargin, 2009). Continuing to educate and allow women access to family planning methods could be a significant, humane way to curb overpopulation. This problem is especially severe in the Amazonian Rainforest. This environmental pollution is contributing to the polar ice caps melting, changing climate patterns, and sea-level rise. People had many children, but a large number of them died before age five. Defying Dictatorships: An Interview with Garry Kasparov, Cambodias Triumph and Tragedy: The UNs Greatest Experiment 30 years on, On Atlantic Alliances and Autocrats: An Interview with Jeanne Shaheen. Overpopulation has a vast adverse effect on the environmental system. It is only logical that an increase in the world's population will cause additional strains on resources. The UN projected that the total population of the worlds least developed countries is projected to rise from just over 1 billion people in 2020 to 1.76 billion in 2050. SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 99(8), 572-573. Staying without any occupation makes people engage in criminal activities such as stealing or even murder. The scarcity of these products could trigger political unrest or an increase in violence. IvyPanda. Overpopulation also contributes to global warming and climate change. Increased demand for the worlds supply of food and water may lead to increased conflicts. For example, many peasants became factory workers, manufactured products became widely available due to mass production, and countless scientific advancements improved existing methods of transportation, communication, and medicine. Effects of overpopulation. Overpopulation Effects - Everything Connects Moreover, they create a greenhouse effect and change climatic patterns. Thus, without the use of contraceptives, population growth is a natural result. For this reason, population growth remained largely stagnant. Since humans like some kinds of fish much more than others, this can lead to a severe ecological problem. Most developed nations have already made this transition, but other countries are currently experiencing this change. (2023) 'Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences'. The UN reports that high-income and upper-middle-income countries contribute about 85% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Women in 1950 had an average of 5 children compared with 2.4 children per woman now. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you World human population growth from 10,000 BC to 2019 AD. This is something to be celebrated, but it is a contributing factor to the growing human population. Causes of Overpopulation. If we do not stop overpopulation, the planet will run a huge risk of total resource depletion. June 15, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/overpopulation-causes-effects-and-consequences/. Scientific progress allowed us, from then onward, to overcome diseases that previously could only end in death. Recent pathogens including COVID-19, Zika virus, and Ebola all originated in animals and mutated to be infectious to humans. Its important to understand that while population growth is highest in impoverished countries, consumption, carbon emissions, and resource use are far more significant in developed parts of the world. Gradually, this economic development created a middle class and, after the work of union activists, ultimately raised the standard of living and health care for the impoverished labor demographic. "Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences." This deforestation leads to a decline in the variety of species. With an increasing number of people, the probability of desertification will increase since the available land will be used more extensively in order to provide bigger crop yields. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Effects of overpopulation. What are the causes and effects of Regardless of which side you take in the debate, its true that a steadily expanding human population proposes immense challenges to all nations. Edward Abbey@media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-2-0-asloaded{max-width:728px!important;max-height:90px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-2','ezslot_8',613,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-2-0'); @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-3-0-asloaded{max-width:728px!important;max-height:90px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-3','ezslot_3',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-3-0');Overpopulation can be defined as a state in which there are too many people on the planet to supply them with basic things like drinkable water, food, breathable air and so on. We will write a custom Essay on Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences specifically for you for only 9.35/page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy, https://www.compassion.com.au/blog/why-do-the-poor-have-large-families, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_overpopulation. While Tokyo and Delhi have experienced some of the highest economic growth in the world, these cities are not expected to grow much more. Many scientists state that human population growth will eventually end, and the United Nations also predicts that Earths population will not exceed 12 billion. Overpopulation accounts for aggravation of poverty. "Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences." Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water. A recent study found that population growth increased conflict related to natural resources in particular, especially in countries that are growing slower. Malaysia and South Africa reached this point in 34 years, Bangladesh in 20 years, and Iran in 10 years. Only then, it will be possible for humanity to live in peace in the future. A prominent example of this strategy was China with its one-child policy. While there is no easy fix to these complex issues, looking at the whole picture of economic, social, and environmental factors is crucial when attempting to lessen the overpopulation problem. Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences Essay - IvyPanda However, the use of fossil fuels is harmful to our environment since the gases produced in industrial processes contribute to global warming and also to air pollution. 8. The database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. The UN projects that over half of the Earths population growth in the next three decades will occur in the continent of Africa. A higher unemployment rate is predicted to accompany the increased demand for Earths resources. What are the causes and effects of overpopulation?. Unemployment 4. However, experts also say that consumption is a large piece of the environmental puzzle. Since the production of food and other goods became quite due to the use of machines and the use of fertilizer and pesticides, people were able to raise more children, which in turn also raised more children. Overpopulation Effects - Everything Connects Cause and Effects of Overpopulation In fact, since 1978, the number of people conceived by reproductive technology has reached several million today and is rapidly approaching 0.1% of the total world population. See full disclosure. What is causing overpopulation in the world today? Agricultural infrastructure will struggle to keep . Increasing unemployment. In an environment that is overpopulated the number of people may be more than the resources available for survival such as water, shelter, and food. People all over the world should be aware of what it means to provide for a family and of the costs relating to it. Why? Possible consequences are environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, and a population crash (sudden reduction in numbers caused by high mortality and failure to produce viable offspring). @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0-asloaded{max-width:336px!important;max-height:280px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_21',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0');However, the use of more land comes with deforestation, which is especially severe in the Amazonian Rainforest. Water is the worlds most precious resource. Promotion of family planning. As has already been mentioned, countries confront one another fighting for resources. As a result, this can lead to an overpopulation of certain areas. Until recently, birth rates and death rates were about the same, keeping the population stable. Overpopulation is a serious threat to our whole environmental system. This is considered an egregious modern-day human rights infringement. Poor living conditions and sanitation similar to Industrial Revolution era slums? Even right now, people are starving every day. A lot of people who survive due to the advancement of medicine live in societies that cannot provide enough resources for a large population. A growing population needs jobs to earn a living. This is due to the fact that, from 2010 to 2015, Africas population grew at a rate of 2.55 percent annually, with the continent still maintaining the highest pace of population growth among other continents. If overpopulation and the depletion of resources continue, this activity may continue or even increase in frequency and intensity. poor people often do not have governmental pension schemes, extraterrestrial settlement like colonizing Mars, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art. Governments may choose between positive and negative reinforcements: they can introduce policies punishing families that have more children than it is allowed with additional taxes or, on the contrary, they can lower the income tax for those who do not have children or have only one child. Need a custom essay sample written from scratch by Tackling overpopulation: what are the solutions? A lack of adequate family planning also persists in many places. The risk for such an event is especially severe if we look at our oceans. As early as in ancient times, philosophers raised concerns over the excessive number of . Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Solutions - Conserve Energy Future IvyPanda. However, on average, only two survived to adulthood. A variety of factors play into these unsustainable trends, including a declining mortality rate, agricultural advancements, underutilized contraception, and immigration. Not to mention the horrid effects it is having on the health of humans. In addition, overpopulation is also likely to lead to an increase in noise pollution due to higher population density. An increase in people moving to these places can cause strain to the systems in place. Methods of preventing pregnancies are highly underutilized. Medical improvements combined with a better supply of food since the industrial revolution period means a vast decline in fatality rates. Another related topic is the increase in the likelihood of epidemics. As weve established, lack of family planning especially in poorer countries is one of the main drivers of overpopulation. Deforestation, habitat loss, air pollution, and water pollution are all side effects of the growing population. This unit addresses: (1)the denition of overpopulation (2) the causes of rapid population growth, (3) the consequences of rapidpopulation growth, and (4) ac-tions and strategies that can be developed to solve problems caused byoverpopula-tion. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aa11c642b67ddb329a35c0708d8bb7fc" );document.getElementById("a97b77b980").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. The UN predicts that, behind Africa, Asia will be the second greatest donor to future international population growth, with an expected addition of approximately one billion people by 2050. It is likely to cause severe conflicts and wars as people will fight for resources in order to meet their daily energy demand. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-banner-1-0-asloaded{max-width:336px!important;max-height:280px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-banner-1','ezslot_16',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-banner-1-0');This led to an increase in wealth which resulted in more children and thus in a higher population number. Fossil fuels are used in many different occasions in our lives, for example for driving our cars or also for the production of other daily life products. While large corporations and the worlds wealthiest individuals are doing the most damage to the Earth, there are still things you can do to fight it. The UNFPA aids various UN bodies like the Commission on Population and Development, and endorses the implementation of the Programme of Action undertaken by the International Conference on Population and Development (IPCD) in 1994. Moreover, due to artificial intelligence, it is likely that the unemployment rate continues to increase since many tasks will be performed by machines instead of humans in the future. The increased amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has contributed to global warming. The demand for the water supply will put people living in lower-income areas and developing countries at an even higher risk of not having enough clean water. Humans are now living much longer than our ancestors, with the global average life expectancy more than doubling since 1990. The overuse of coal, oil, and natural gas has been shown to have serious, lasting effects on the environment. We are degrading ecosystems that provide essential, irreplaceable environmental services that future generations will need to live decent lives. This stage involves reduced conception rates and slowing population growth. The demand for products will cause the prices for essential commodities such as food, housing, and medical care to increase. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Since farmers improved their knowledge of farming techniques, they were able to increase their crop yields significantly. Additionally, it contributes to the global warming issue. ADVERTISEMENTS: Some of the important consequences faced by overpopulation are: 1. Those who are not able to do that will be left behind, which results in an increased mortality rate. An increasing number of people will strive to live in the best places on earth, which will likely lead to an explosion of housing costs. A few social factors like illiteracy, poverty and no family planning are also responsible for overpopulation in developing or underdeveloped nations. Ehrlichs novel proposes theories regarding potential outcomes for when agricultural growth does not keep pace with population growth. Its fair to assume that as the population keeps growing, so too will our damage to the Earth. Besides, the course of pregnancy is much safer due to technological advances in the field (Pimentel, 2006). It means that if we continue ignoring the problem, sooner or later we may be left without a place to populate. Uncontrolled growth of population decreases the growth of any country and also causes many socioeconomic disturbances. As our cities become more populous and expand outward, we will continue to encroach on the habitats that animals rely on to survive. When children are too young to work or are involved in work activities that compromise their physical, mental, social, and educational development, this is considered child labor. In Simons words, human ingenuity is the ultimate resource. Therefore, the enactment of heavy-handed population-control regulations is not only abhorrent, but is also irrational and unsupported by scientific evidence. China has recently abolished the policy restricting the number of children in a family). As this generation ages and its fertility diminishes, the rate of population growth will likely continue to decrease in every nation. Only a few countries will make up over half the projected population increase by 2050: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the Philippines, and Egypt. Sex education for children. 15 June. Hygienic condition 6. No matter how grave the problem might be, there are still measures that can be taken to stop overpopulation. The main cause of overshoot is the extraordinary growth of the human population made possible by fossil energy. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Climate change has captured public awareness more recently although many doubt that it is an emergency. In the words of economist Julian Simon, Whatever the rate of population growth is, historically it has been that the food supply increases at least as fast, if not faster. Since Ehrlichs initial fear-mongering regarding an overpopulation-induced Armageddon, the planets population has more than doubled. The use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides helps increase crop production. In the U.S., for example, more than 1 million babies have been born due to assisted reproductive technology since 1996. Now that we understand the causes and effects of overpopulation lets examine some of the main solutions to this issue. This increased accessibility to food led to a larger population. The essay at hand is going to analyze the existing problem investigating its causes and effects. In this guide, well dive into all the overpopulation causes, effects, and solutions you need to know. Why it Matters and What You Can Do About It - MAHB As we have seen earlier, poor people are likely to have more children than rich people. Overall, most scientists postulate that human population growth will eventually come to an end, and the UN predicts that Earths population will not exceed twelve billion. We will need technological and social innovation to help us support the worlds population as we adapt to and mitigate climate and environmental changes. In the last five decades, Earth has experienced an extreme population boom. The Effects of Overpopulation. 1. Pollution 7. Will there be mass-migration? Most experts warn that overpopulation and a lack of resources will likely breed unrest and conflict. It is believed to be the major leading cause of overpopulation. Education on family planning, reproductive health, and greater access to schools typically lead women and children to have fewer children. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page.