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 Six of the Solomon Islands have disappeared due to rising seas and erosion. Their destroyed villages forced residents to relocate. Other islanders are negotiating for a place to go when their land is no longer habitable. The Solomon Islands, with a population of 640,000, lie 1,000 miles North-East of Australia. 

Population: Still a concern?

The main stream press and top politicians cover many of the world’s problems, but I rarely hear talk, as in the 70s, of overpopulation as a root cause. The other day I got into a discussion with my oldest son about whether population is still is an issue of concern. Our conversation ended by my agreeing to look into the issue. 

An article in Scientific American about sustainability started me thinking. It said that slowing the rise in human numbers is essential for the planet, but doesn’t require population control.  It  also said that the jury is out as to whether growth of human population is a positive factor or a dominant ill spelling environmental and social catastrophe.  What do they mean?

I find current statistics, which take into account birth and death rates, to be staggering. In the 1950s, according to the World Health Organization, U.S. women expected to live to 71and men to 66 years.This was quite a rise from 1900 when the numbers were 48 for women and 46 years for men. Fast forward to today and we find that expectancy is 79 for women and 74 years for men.

As population increased, however, people did not spread out over the planet. Instead they move to cities causing congestion, crime and difficulties with sanitation, clean water and access to health care. Overpopulation is primarily a problem of high density cities. In the U.S. 62 percent of the population live in cities, but they occupy only 3.5 percent of land area. Don’t want to be crowded? Move to Sitka, Alaska where there are only 3.1 people per square mile.

Growth in human population has had a devastating effect on plants and animals. It has caused approximately 27,000 species to become extinct each year. Adding to this problem is overconsumption which is outpacing overpopulation, causing natural resources to dwindle at an alarming rate. Global consumption of raw materials increased by 17 times during the 20th century.  Toxic rain and  acidifying rivers, ocean dead zones, melting polar caps, ozone destruction, top soil erosion, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and vanishing lakes are caused by out-of-control population growth over-consuming.

Until population stops growing, the need to squeeze each person’s consumption of fossil fuels and other natural resources will continue. Billions of people living in the developing world would like to consume as Americans do. Population growth pushes consumption levels higher, adding to environmental degradation.

Those who enjoy individual freedom will be concerned as well. Freedom to travel and spend time in areas rich in natural resources are increasingly affected by hordes of visitors. Locals in cities like Berlin, Prague and Barcelona complain about the growing number of visitors wandering their streets. As they are outnumbered by foreigners, they fear the loss of identity. Countries worldwide are putting limits on tourist housing to control noisy visitors who degrade their towns and destroy sites of natural beauty. 

Democracy too is affected, for governments are less representative as population increases. Two senators for each state has remained constant even as population shifted and increased. And, the 435 House members represent and  growing number of constituents. It is no wonder that so many voters feel disenfranchised from their government. It is difficult to get through to overburdened congressmen.

Around the world, growing and grazing areas are victims of global warming. Water shortages, fires and floods push people to abandon their lands, and because wars over energy resources destroy communities, pressure from immigrants will continue to plague wealthier countries. What would you do if your livestock died and vegetable garden shriveled in 120 degree temperatures? What if you lived in Australia where summer temperatures hover at 117 degrees and fire turns forests into carbon dioxide? What if you were terrorized by war lords fighting over oil and water rights? Where will people go if the ocean covers Amsterdam, Venice, Miami or Manhattan? What if your family lived with the fear of being kidnapped for ransom? 

I know I would do everything in my power to protect my loved ones. I would leave. If I had to steal for food, I would. If I had to sneak into a country with greater opportunities, I would—for what other choice would I have?  Immigration is a bitter debate, but it’s a losing one for temperate climate countries if population growth and consumption does not slow down.

Can the situation be turned around? Will a downshift in population growth put us on a more sustainable path. The answer is no, that will not be enough. We also have to change consumptive behavior dramatically.

Demographers estimate that at the time of Christ there were 300 million people on earth. Today’s world population clock shows 7.7 billion people. So far this year (as of October 10th) there were 108,887.272 births, 45,145,885 deaths, making the growth to date is 63,851,559. The largest countries by population in descending order are China (1.5 billion), India (1.35 billion) and much to my surprise the U.S.A. (327,413.377). Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Russia follow.

World Population Forecast (2020-2050)

World Population by Region

Some people believe that population rates will decline when third world countries become more developed. One UN estimate predicts declines starting by 2100 while another estimate predicts an increase. Confused? It is difficult to say which way the global population pendulum will swing in future centuries or if the environment will still be able to provide sustenance for earth’s residents. 

You decide. Is overpopulation a matter for concern? Is it at the root of poverty, homelessness, migration, war and global warming? 

Please share your comments on my blog site below.

Art is always for sale. Contact me at [email protected].

Resources:

Engelman,R. (2009) Population and Sustainability: Can We Avoid Limiting the Number of People? Scientific American. retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/population-and-sustainability/  

10 Lively Facts about Population Growth. (2018) Postconsumers. retrieved from https://www.postconsumers.com/2014/04/09/10-facts-overpopulation/

Current World Population Clock.  Worldometers.  retrieved from website http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/.

Wooldridge, F.(2017)  What Constitutes Overpopulation in America? Too Many People! Denver Post. retrieved from http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Blogs/Your-Voice/Blog~896810.

Earth Talk.(2017) Is it true that human overpopulation isn’t such a big issue anymore, as numbers are expected to start declining in a few decades?. Scientific American’s Environmental Magazine. retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/human-overpopulation-still-an-issue-of-concern/

United States Census Newsroom (2015) U.S. Cities are Home to 62.7 Percent of the U.S. Population but Comprise Just 3.5 Percent of Land Area. U.S. Census. retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33.html