The Problem of Overpoplution

800 Words2 Pages

Overpopulation is becoming a pressing issue in the world we live in today. According to the report World Population to 2300 done by the United Nations, the human population grew from roughly 2.5 to 6.1 billion from 1950 to 2000. The report projects that the human population will grow to over ten billion by 2050 (DESA, 5). The size of our large, and growing, population is putting stress on our planet's finite resources.
The amount of available fresh water is declining and is being made worse with a growing population. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) states in their study Atlas of population & environment that all continents are experiencing declines in water tables. The AAAS estimate that by the year 2025 forty-eight countries and thirty-five percent of the world population will have water shortages. This issue of water shortages becomes even more severe with the deterioration of the quality of water caused by industrial waste and sewage pollution (AAAS, 51).
A growing population also puts a strain on food supply. A 2001 World Population Monitoring report by the United Nations states that 790 million people in less-developed nations, 8 million in industrialized nations, and 26 million in countries that are in economic transition are suffering from malnutrition (World Population Monitoring, 16). The report goes on to state that population growth is the main reason for driving up the demand of agriculture (World Population Monitoring, 38). This demand is also causing issues for marine fishers.
Fish provided about six percent of humans total diet in 1996 which was roughly fifteen percent of all animal protein. From the 1950s to 1960s marine fisheries throughout the world increased their production b...

... middle of paper ...

...& Environment. 1st ed. N.p.: University of California, 2001. 51. Print.
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division (DESA). World Population Monitoring. New York: United Nations, 2001. Print.
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division (DESA). World Population to 2300. New York: United Nations, 2004. Print.
Despommier, Dickson. The Vertical Farm: Reducing the Impact of Agriculture on Ecosystem Functions and Services. N.d. Essay. Columbia University, New York.
Finer LB and Zolna MR, Unintended pregnancy in the United States: incidence and disparities, 2006, Contraception, 2011.
Gold, Rachel et al., Next Steps for America’s Family Planning Program: Leveraging the Potential of Medicaid and Title X in an Evolving Health Care System, New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2009.
WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Open Document