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Climate Change: How can we address the intersection of population change and environmental sustainability?

Members:

Hera Selas 2802429913

Keshia Abigail 2802405371

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How to Address Climate Change and Population Growth

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How to Address Climate Change and Population Growth

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Population growth refers to the increase in number of individuals within a specific area. This growth can occur due to immigration, high birth rate number, high fertility rates, cultural perspective, and many more. The rate of population growth varies by region, for instance, in developing countries they often face rapid population growth due to low education levels and cultural preference, on the other hand, developed countries tend to have lower population growth, often prioritizing careers over having a family, benefiting from higher levels of education, and undergoing changes in lifestyle or cultural norms. There are two types of population growth:

1.        Exponential Growth:

-              The population grows at a consistent rate, causing a rapid and accelerating increase. Each generation adds more individuals than the previous one because the growth rate applies to a continuously expanding population. (unlimited growth)

2.        Logistic Growth:

-              Logistic Growth is a population growth pattern in which the population initially grows quickly, but the rate of growth slows down as resources become limited

Population growth significantly impacts sustainability and social structure.  The number of demands for resources and environmental degradation depends on the number of populations. Increased demands often lead to more deforestation, unemployment, and pollution as societies strive to meet agricultural, urban development, and housing needs. These pressures contribute to climate change.

Climate change refers to Earth’s long term temperature shift due to rising carbon emissions in the atmosphere, which leads to warmer temperatures. Consequences include rising sea levels, increased drought, and lack of nutritious food.  Therefore, it is essential to balance population growth with the planet’s capacity to support sustainable living.

To address the imbalance of population growth and capacity, it is crucial to provide education in family planning as well as childbearing practices. Urban planning is also vital to minimize the environmental footprint of growing populations, for example, implementing energy efficient systems. Sustainable development must also be pursued to reduce environmental harm.

Reference :

1. Population. (n.d.). Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/understanding-statistics/statistical-terms-and-concepts/population#:~:text=A%20population%20is%20any%20complete,%2C%20farms%2C%20objects%20or%20events.

2. Khan Academy. (n.d.). https://www.khanacademy.org/science/hs-bio/x230b3ff252126bb6:ecology-and-natural-systems/x230b3ff252126bb6:population-growth-and-carrying-capacity/a/exponential-and-logistic-growth-of-populations

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ADDRESSING THE INTERSECTION OF POPULATION CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

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ADDRESSING THE INTERSECTION OF POPULATION CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

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Population change can be defined as the changing number of people on Earth in a certain time period (Wikipedia, 2024). Where on the other hand, environmental sustainability means the responsibility to conserve and protect nature and its resources (sphera, 2020). So what is the correlation between population change and environmental sustainability?

As years go by, our population has experienced a significant increase. The explosion of our population can be seen starting in the late 1940s. Based on population matters (2024), our population went from 1.5 billion to 2.5 billion estimated, in the late 1950s, and it kept increasing until our population reached around 8 billion people in the year of 2022.

The significant increase of population has brought several issues to our environment and its sustainability. According earth.org (2023) some of the most affected aspects are :

1. Food security :

Big population equals big consumption, which leads to food shortage.

2. Greater greenhouse gas emissions :

More people means more vehicles, industries, and energy consumption that brings a detrimental impact to our climate change

3. More waste and pollution :

A large population produces high levels of waste, leading to soil, air, and water contamination.

4. Overcrowding and a lack of resources :

Urban areas overcrowds, putting pressure on housing, transportation, and natural resources

5. Limited education access and work opportunities :

Big population outpaces the availability of schools, jobs, and social services. Especially in developing regions.

6. Overburdened healthcare systems :

Rapid population growth strains healthcare infrastructures. Making it difficult to provide quality care for all

REFERENCE :

1. Wikipedia. (2024). Population change. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_change

2. Population Matters. (2024). Population : The numbers. https://populationmatters.org/the-facts-numbers/

3. Sphera. (2020). What is environmental sustainability? https://sphera.com/resources/glossary/what-is-environmental-sustainability/

4. Earth.Org. (2023). Overpopulation and sustainability. Retrieved from https://earth.org/overpopulation-sustainability/