The overpopulated opinion of Southeast and East Asia has been a long held view. What needs be addressed now however, is how this issue will impact the future. This paper will explore the reasons why overpopulation in this region is a growing concern. The impact of Southeast (SEA) and East Asia’s (EA) overpopulation on Australia will be explored, focusing on the social and environmental implications.
SEA (0.6 billion) and EA (1.6 billion) large population, accounts for almost one third of Earth’s 7 billon people. (Hayes & Zhao, 2012). It’s true that growth in this region has now peaked – SEA and EA has made the demographic transition to high to low birth and death rates, just as the developed nations did decades earlier. However, current population …show more content…
Australia already has a large immigration policy and is part of the refugee council. Over the next decades, SEA and EA’s overcrowding and could significantly affect these policies. Australia will require displacement policies due to climate change and rising sea level from our Asian and Pacific low lying neighbours. Currently there is no policy on granting refugee status due to loss of environment. (Williams, 2013). An influx of people from SEA and EA will have significant social and environmental implications for Australia’s …show more content…
First, population increase due immigration and refugees would impact Australia’s current environment. Second, how existing global, SEA and EA trade patterns already affect our environment. There is an inconsistency in distribution of water supply and the existing population, further compounded by the fact Australia is subject to high seasonal availability. Much soil is degraded with possibility of depletion and many species are threatened. (Smith, 2003). It is estimated Australia’s land based food production capacity can carry a population of 45 million – The predicted population by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) exceeds this number. Carrying capacity in timber, fisheries and oil are already exceeded. Cleland, 2013; Jones, 1997) Significant increases in Australian population will exacerbate these existing environmental issues. In addition, urban air and noise pollution in already highly populated cites could deteriorate, assisted by migrant to trend to favour settlement in major cities over regional areas (Encina, 2011). The second point considers increasing air pollution due to trade and industrialisation. Consider the example of China: High use of coal for energy in China produced 6200 tones of C02 gas in 2007 – overtaking the US for the first time. While there has been a slight reduction in the last year, and per capita amount is low, China
SEA (0.6 billion) and EA (1.6 billion) large population, accounts for almost one third of Earth’s 7 billon people. (Hayes & Zhao, 2012). It’s true that growth in this region has now peaked – SEA and EA has made the demographic transition to high to low birth and death rates, just as the developed nations did decades earlier. However, current population …show more content…
Australia already has a large immigration policy and is part of the refugee council. Over the next decades, SEA and EA’s overcrowding and could significantly affect these policies. Australia will require displacement policies due to climate change and rising sea level from our Asian and Pacific low lying neighbours. Currently there is no policy on granting refugee status due to loss of environment. (Williams, 2013). An influx of people from SEA and EA will have significant social and environmental implications for Australia’s …show more content…
First, population increase due immigration and refugees would impact Australia’s current environment. Second, how existing global, SEA and EA trade patterns already affect our environment. There is an inconsistency in distribution of water supply and the existing population, further compounded by the fact Australia is subject to high seasonal availability. Much soil is degraded with possibility of depletion and many species are threatened. (Smith, 2003). It is estimated Australia’s land based food production capacity can carry a population of 45 million – The predicted population by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) exceeds this number. Carrying capacity in timber, fisheries and oil are already exceeded. Cleland, 2013; Jones, 1997) Significant increases in Australian population will exacerbate these existing environmental issues. In addition, urban air and noise pollution in already highly populated cites could deteriorate, assisted by migrant to trend to favour settlement in major cities over regional areas (Encina, 2011). The second point considers increasing air pollution due to trade and industrialisation. Consider the example of China: High use of coal for energy in China produced 6200 tones of C02 gas in 2007 – overtaking the US for the first time. While there has been a slight reduction in the last year, and per capita amount is low, China