The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation
The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation
Jakira West
June 10, 2012
The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation As time passes and our world’s population continues to grow, overpopulation is becoming a very serious issue deserving of the upmost acknowledgement and consideration. Throughout history crowding of the earth and the overuse of the world’s natural resources has hardly been a main concern. Today however, with a population of 7 billion people and counting, the diminishment of the earth’s resources has become a more serious issue than ever before. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, overpopulation occurs when a population’s density exceeds the capacity of the environment to supply the health requirements of an individual. In other words, overpopulation happens when the amount of individuals exceeds the amount of resources the individuals require in order to satisfy their most basic needs. Overpopulation has become an issue because our earth can only provide so much for the sustainment of every human life. In the past, more industrialized and populated countries have been main contributors to the pollution and plundering of the Earth. The United Nations reports that population increases have slowed and even stopped in places such as North America, Japan, and Europe. Still, the growth in population of places such as sub-Saharan Africa and south and western Asia has been a significant factor in the increase of the world’s population. “Industrialized countries in the past have done their share of plundering and polluting. But today most such problems occur in developing countries commonly called the Third World, which also happen to be the areas of greatest population growth” (Nat Geo). The global population rises at the rate of 78 million people per year.
A problem within the problem of overpopulation is the fact that the fastest growing countries are the least able to afford their large populations. “Africa’s population has tripled
Jakira West
June 10, 2012
The Environmental Issue of Overpopulation As time passes and our world’s population continues to grow, overpopulation is becoming a very serious issue deserving of the upmost acknowledgement and consideration. Throughout history crowding of the earth and the overuse of the world’s natural resources has hardly been a main concern. Today however, with a population of 7 billion people and counting, the diminishment of the earth’s resources has become a more serious issue than ever before. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, overpopulation occurs when a population’s density exceeds the capacity of the environment to supply the health requirements of an individual. In other words, overpopulation happens when the amount of individuals exceeds the amount of resources the individuals require in order to satisfy their most basic needs. Overpopulation has become an issue because our earth can only provide so much for the sustainment of every human life. In the past, more industrialized and populated countries have been main contributors to the pollution and plundering of the Earth. The United Nations reports that population increases have slowed and even stopped in places such as North America, Japan, and Europe. Still, the growth in population of places such as sub-Saharan Africa and south and western Asia has been a significant factor in the increase of the world’s population. “Industrialized countries in the past have done their share of plundering and polluting. But today most such problems occur in developing countries commonly called the Third World, which also happen to be the areas of greatest population growth” (Nat Geo). The global population rises at the rate of 78 million people per year.
A problem within the problem of overpopulation is the fact that the fastest growing countries are the least able to afford their large populations. “Africa’s population has tripled
Cited: Hoevel, Ann. "Overpopulation Could Be People, Planet Problem." CNN. 25 Sept. 2007. Web. 19 May 2012. <http://articles.cnn.com/2007-09 25/tech/overpopulation.overview_1_world-population-population-institute population-estimates?_s=PM:TECH>. "Worst Environmental Problem? Overpopulation, Experts Say." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 Apr. 2009. Web. 19 May 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418075752.htm>.