Exponential Population Growth
Introduction
According to the International Program Center, U.S. Census Bureau, the total population of the World, projected to 03/27/08 at 19:37 GMT (EST+5) is 6,657,527,872. (US Census Bureau) This rapid growth in population means little to most people living in this today’s world but it’s a phenomenon that should be a concern to all. It took from the start of human history to the industrial revolution around 1945 for the population to grow to 2 billion. If we then look at the figures after 1945 then we would realize that this figure has more than doubled and even tripled. There is a fear that if left uncontrolled and this figure continues to grow exponentially the world population could reach a total of 8 – 12 billion by the end of the 21st century. The world 's current growth rate is about 1.14% which would cause the population to double in 65 years. The world 's growth rate peaked in the 1960s at 2% which was projected to double after 35 years. (Rosenburg)
Environmental Effects
Environmental problems have always been man made, but never before on such a perilous scale. One of the worst impacts of population explosion has shown itself through global warming. “The coal and oil that have fueled the growth of industrialized countries have also fueled the warming of the Earth. Roughly 75% of the man-made global warming pollution currently in the atmosphere comes from industrialized nations.” (Sierra Club) These harmful effects of environmental change are creating problems in areas where population growth may not be an issue of over population. “For example, in Arctic regions, structures built atop permafrost are collapsing. Polar ice is melting, releasing freshwater flows that may alter the great ocean circulations, changing climates, temperatures, and agricultural production over vast areas.” (Counsel for Secular Humanism) Other problems that are affecting our environment are forest encroachment, deforestation, fuel-wood depletion, soil erosion, declining
According to the International Program Center, U.S. Census Bureau, the total population of the World, projected to 03/27/08 at 19:37 GMT (EST+5) is 6,657,527,872. (US Census Bureau) This rapid growth in population means little to most people living in this today’s world but it’s a phenomenon that should be a concern to all. It took from the start of human history to the industrial revolution around 1945 for the population to grow to 2 billion. If we then look at the figures after 1945 then we would realize that this figure has more than doubled and even tripled. There is a fear that if left uncontrolled and this figure continues to grow exponentially the world population could reach a total of 8 – 12 billion by the end of the 21st century. The world 's current growth rate is about 1.14% which would cause the population to double in 65 years. The world 's growth rate peaked in the 1960s at 2% which was projected to double after 35 years. (Rosenburg)
Environmental Effects
Environmental problems have always been man made, but never before on such a perilous scale. One of the worst impacts of population explosion has shown itself through global warming. “The coal and oil that have fueled the growth of industrialized countries have also fueled the warming of the Earth. Roughly 75% of the man-made global warming pollution currently in the atmosphere comes from industrialized nations.” (Sierra Club) These harmful effects of environmental change are creating problems in areas where population growth may not be an issue of over population. “For example, in Arctic regions, structures built atop permafrost are collapsing. Polar ice is melting, releasing freshwater flows that may alter the great ocean circulations, changing climates, temperatures, and agricultural production over vast areas.” (Counsel for Secular Humanism) Other problems that are affecting our environment are forest encroachment, deforestation, fuel-wood depletion, soil erosion, declining
References: US Census Bureau, Retrieved on March 27, 2008 from: “http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html” Matt Rosenburg “Population Growth” January 2, 2006 “http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/populationgrow.htm Sierra Club “Populations and Global Warming Factsheet” Retrieved on March 10, 2008 from: “http://www.sierraclub.org/population/reports/globalwarming.asp” Counsel for Secular Humanism “The Silent Crisis” Retrieved on March 17, 2008 from: http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kuper_24_5.htm Recon D. (2004). World Population Reaches 6.4 Billion: What To Do? Retrieved on September 29, 2006 from: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/1/22/173143/411 Richman. S. (July 1993). The Population Problem That Isn 't. Retrieved on March 19, 2008 from: http://www.fff.org/freedom/0793c.asp Fuller, Bethany. "County to grow by 40k people in eight years according to firm’s study." Statesville Record $ Landmark 24 Feb. 2008: 92.