In 1798, Reverend Thomas Malthus said that the earth’s population would grow more quickly then we are able to produce resources, such as food (Dimick). He hypothesized that the population would grow geometrically, meaning it would double, while the amount of resources we have would only grow arithmetically (Dimick). What are the leading contributors to overpopulation and lack of resources, and what can country’s do specifically to fix the gap?
Overpopulation is defined as “an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of the earth (Kukreja)”. Since the Bubonic Plague in the 1400’s Earths population has been in a constant rise, and even though there has been a number or wars and other hazards …show more content…
While many resources are under pressure, there are six that are under more pressure then others: water, oil, natural gas, phosphorus, coal, and rare earth elements (Ruz). Water, for example is essential to life, and a serious concern. Since fresh, drinkable water makes up only 2.5% of the water on the earth, and most of it being frozen, we as a society have access to a limited freshwater supply (Ruz). When it comes to more renewable resources, like food and crops, when more people are using it, countries are trying ways found to increase production so everyone can have access to the same amount of resources. Regardless of the type of resource, adjustments must be made by different countries to support the growing …show more content…
After World War II, Chinas president, Mao, encouraged Chinese families to grow and expand (Codewit). The Chinese government thought that the growing population would bring money and help them “produce more food, a better army, better water control, and a better communication system (Codewit).” Within 20 years, the population increased by 712 million (Codewit). The main reasons for China’s overpopulation and sustainability issue was that their population grew to large too fast, and they realized too late that they did not have the resources, and space to accommodate it. When the population was growing at a drastic rate between 1950-1978, the country did nothing. They realized they should have taken action, so they started taking action, but a little too late. The most well known action that they took was that they enacted a one child per family policy, along with requiring “people to marry older and have children later in life
Overpopulation is defined as “an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of the earth (Kukreja)”. Since the Bubonic Plague in the 1400’s Earths population has been in a constant rise, and even though there has been a number or wars and other hazards …show more content…
While many resources are under pressure, there are six that are under more pressure then others: water, oil, natural gas, phosphorus, coal, and rare earth elements (Ruz). Water, for example is essential to life, and a serious concern. Since fresh, drinkable water makes up only 2.5% of the water on the earth, and most of it being frozen, we as a society have access to a limited freshwater supply (Ruz). When it comes to more renewable resources, like food and crops, when more people are using it, countries are trying ways found to increase production so everyone can have access to the same amount of resources. Regardless of the type of resource, adjustments must be made by different countries to support the growing …show more content…
After World War II, Chinas president, Mao, encouraged Chinese families to grow and expand (Codewit). The Chinese government thought that the growing population would bring money and help them “produce more food, a better army, better water control, and a better communication system (Codewit).” Within 20 years, the population increased by 712 million (Codewit). The main reasons for China’s overpopulation and sustainability issue was that their population grew to large too fast, and they realized too late that they did not have the resources, and space to accommodate it. When the population was growing at a drastic rate between 1950-1978, the country did nothing. They realized they should have taken action, so they started taking action, but a little too late. The most well known action that they took was that they enacted a one child per family policy, along with requiring “people to marry older and have children later in life