Negative Effects Of Overpopulation

An overarching issue that concerns all people due to its far-reaching implications is the subject of overpopulation. In the last two centuries, the global population has dramatically increased from 0.9 billion in 1800 to 7.6 billion in 2017. Some people may say growing population is beneficial since more people generates a bigger market and a bigger economy. On the other hand, the ramifications from dramatically increased population demonstrates the irrefutable negative facts on overpopulation. To understand the effects of overpopulation, it is imperative to explore its negative impacts on the environment, people’s lives, and the economy. Population growth comes with increased carbon dioxide since the people combust more fossil fuels

In Andrew Steer’s journal article, he substantiates the severity of pollution by mentioning that “carbon-intensive growth is already responsible for about 5 million deaths a year— 400,000 as a result of hunger and communicable diseases exacerbated by climate change and 4.5 million as a result of associated air pollution” (Steer 5). By illustrating the severe mortality rate caused by pollution, the author emphasizes the seriousness of the influence of pollution on the people’s health. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that the economic cost of environmental damage is tremendous: “the drought in the United States that began in 2012 is expected to cost 1 percent of GDP; it is the costliest natural disaster in U.S. History” (Steer 6). On average, countries around the world use about 8% of their GDP for the annual cost of environmental damage. Hence, the combination of adverse climate and rapidly growing demand has led to sharply higher food prices over the past few years: “The spike in food prices in the second half of 2010 alone was estimated to have driven more than 40 million people into poverty” (Steer 6). Presented with these concrete facts, it is obvious that overpopulation makes people’s lives harsher by causing diseases, falling economies, and increasing food prices. Not only does overpopulation affects the people’s lives, but it also influences the