Today, the world’s population is 7.6 billion. Statistics have proven that, in the next 31 years, by 2050 the world’s population will reach 9 billion. This will have a major impact on the environment such as pollution, a major strain on housing, natural resources, and even education. For this reason, it is important to limit the population growth in the world and prevent it from reaching 9 billion.
With more population growth; cities are getting more abundant and highly populated. “In the next 31 years, the United Nations estimates that the number of people in cities will rise more to more than 68%. Cities will become wider, taller, and more densely packed.” (“Are building suppliers ready for population growth?” db). This illustrates the high demand for housing and new buildings, construction workers will have to adapt to future residents needs with the resources they have left. More trees will be cut down destroying homes of harmless animals, to make room for more neighborhoods, and the city to expand. With that being said, will we have many trees left if the population keeps increasing in the future? Imagine how much damage is being done to the environment just from the expansion of new cities and housing.
Our natural resources are vital for human life, and with overpopulation, they will be in severe pressure and shortage. “The majority in developed economies consume exponentially more than the basic subsistence level, thereby exerting excessive strain on natural resources.” (Who will pay the price of overpopulation? db). Thus, natural resources are diminishing as the world population keeps increasing. It is extremely important that we limit population growth in order to conserve the resources we have to keep stability in the world.
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Pollution is another increasing factor due to overpopulation growth, affecting the environment and air we breathe. With society growing so rapidly, more roads and transportation systems are increasing leading to air pollution. Gary Fuller writes that “Our everyday proximity to traffic means vehicles are responsible for a lot of the pollution we breathe in. Some air pollutants from diesel vehicles have been out of control, with cars producing far more nitrogen dioxide on the streets.” (Pollutionwatch). Statistics have proven that cars release approximately 333 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. Breathing in this pollution leaves humans at higher risk of respiratory diseases including, asthma and in more serious cases cancer or heart problems.
In addition, while the air is being polluted some toxic chemicals tend to settle into the fresh water that we and animals use to drink and water crops. Water is a valuable resource that can easily be polluted and contaminated, which leaves a big disruption on the natural food chain and our health. Natural Resources Defense Council, Melissa Denchak, states that “Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined.” (Water Pollution). Polluted water causes many dangers, water is a crucial natural resource for human life on earth, agriculture production, and animal life. It is important to take care of our water because without water, we will encounter a declining production of crops, animal life will begin lowering down the food chain eventually affecting human life.
With rapid population growth there is a higher demand in agriculture products, but in rather underdeveloped countries “ this has been labeled as the underlying cause of the world standing on the brink of disaster. It is argued, we are running out of food to sustain such a growing population.” (“World population and agriculture” db). As unfortunate as it sounds, the major food shortage due to overpopulation in even the underdeveloped countries, eventually leads to child labor. “High growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa are producing millions of children to educate, employ, and feed in societies suffering great poverty and diseases.” (“A path for balanced population growth” db). Children end up losing important educational opportunities to help the family in crop production such as farming and other businesses for food supply. Renewable Resources CO proves that “Approximately 150 million children are currently working, primarily in countries that have fewer child labor laws.” (Overpopulation causes).
Now we ask ourselves, how do we prevent all of these factors of overpopulation and keep a stable environment? The Third International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), established a goal “ to follow a low-growth path to a world population a little under 7.3 billion in 2015, and stabilization at 7.8 billion by 2050.” (“Overpopulation alarm” db). Governments like China have a strict policy that put many emphases allowing only one child per family. China is the leading most populated country in the world and the government is strict on this policy to prevent an overpopulated economy and lower the average birth rates to keep stability. Educating and spreading awareness in schools about overpopulation, pollutions and the usage of birth control are a good way to teach the younger generations about the environment and economy; and how it is so important to take care of our planet along with the natural resources it provides us with.
In conclusion, overpopulation is a serious evolving topic in today’s society and will have major impacts on the environment like air and water pollution, agriculture and crop production, diminishing natural resources and education for some families. It is important that we know the following reasons why overpopulation growth is a serious problem and what it can do to our world and personal lives if we don’t take motives to try and prevent these things from taking any further action and encourage stability in world population.
Works cited
- “Are building suppliers ready for population growth?” Construction Week, 20 Feb. 2019. Infotrac Newsstand.
- Carty, Winthrop P. “A path for balanced population growth? (Inter-American Viewpoint).” Americas, Mar.-Apr. 2003, p. 54+. Student Resources in Context,
- Denchak, Melissa. “Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.” NRDC, 27 Mar. 2019,
- Florman, Samuel C. “Overpopulation alarm.” Technology Review, Oct. 1994, p. 65. General OneFile,
- Fuller, Gary. “Pollutionwatch: Roads Account for a Lot of Pollution so Why Do We Need More?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Aug. 2018,
- Nagpal, Phalasha. “Performance – Environment: Who will pay the price of overpopulation?” Governance Now, 1 Nov. 2018. General OneFile,
- “Overpopulation Causes, Effects & Solutions | Renewable Resources Co.” Renewable Resources Coalition, 16 Jan. 2019,
- “WORLD POPULATION and AGRICULTURE.” Pakistan & Gulf Economist, 18 Sept. 2011. General OneFile,
