Global warming and climate change are, and will continue to be for many decades, the two great problems of the 21st century. However, although the causes of these problems are linked to human activity and, especially, to the emission of greenhouse gases from the use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, there is one element that is clearly in tune with this problem: global overpopulation.
Overpopulation leads to greater consumption of natural resources, which, in turn, also leads to greater degradation of the environment and ecosystems. In fact, if we do not manage to efficiently manage the World overpopulation, its causes, consequences and solutionswe will face the destruction of life on Earth as we know it today. If you want to delve a little deeper into the topic, keep reading Evidence Network and we’ll tell you.
What is overpopulation
Maybe you know the concept of overpopulation roughlybut to understand its causes and consequences we have to understand it in more detail. We talk about overpopulation when population of a species exceeds the carrying capacity in numbers of its ecological niche.
It should be noted that overpopulation can occur in both animals and people and can have a great impact on the ecosystem. Furthermore, when this increase in individuals takes place, the resources that exist to live are limited.
Causes of world overpopulation
Although the study of population dates back to ancient times, it could be considered Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) as the first thinker to raise the problem of overpopulation.
Malthus himself already established in his time that, because the available resources are limited, the Earth could only accommodate a specific number of human beings. Anything that went beyond these limits would lead to a shortage of natural resources and, consequently, social conflicts.
Available natural resources
In this way, the first indirect cause behind overpopulation would be the finitude of the available natural resources, whether water, food, energy or simply space to live. If resources were not limited, there would be no problem with the population growing infinitely.
However, having a limited amount of resources, one can speak of overpopulation when the number of individuals is exceeded (in this case human beings) that can meet your needs with the available resources without putting at risk the resources of future generations and the cyclical recovery of said resources.
Population increase
Consequently, another cause of overpopulation would be the increase in population. As there are more human beings, the resources consumed are more and therefore this causes one to speak of overpopulation by exceeding the consumption of resources that allow responsible consumption. Regarding the causes of this increase in population, we should talk about multi-causal elements. That is, from several causes.
Other causes of overpopulation
In this sense, other causes of global human overpopulation are:
- Improvements in the quality of healthcare: which leads to an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in infant mortality.
- Technological improvements: that allow an increase in the quantity and quality of food.
- Urban concentrations: more than 50% of humanity lives in cities.
Consequences of overpopulation
Now that we have known the causes of overpopulation and what it is, let’s discover 10 consequences of overpopulation.
Destruction of natural resources
The consequences of global overpopulation are several. First of all, it is worth mentioning the accelerated destruction of natural resources available and, above all, the consumption of resources that do not allow their cyclical recovery.
This is what we mean when we say that “we are consuming the natural resources of future generations.” That is, we consume more than the Earth can produce, and this leads to the destruction of natural means of resource production.
We leave you the following article so that you know what is the importance of natural resources.
Destruction of ecosystems
Another direct consequence of world overpopulation, and which is related to this overconsumption of natural resourcesis the destruction of ecosystems and means of production of these resources. By abusing available natural resources, we end up destroying them, which means that they cannot be used again in the future.
We can see a good example in the abusive use of water from aquifers. By excessively consuming this water from aquifers, they become dry and, consequently, can no longer retain new water from precipitation.
Consequently, a natural resource such as the water from the aquifer in question, and which if it had been consumed responsibly could have continued to be used, is irreparably destroyed, thus destroying not only the present natural resources, but also also the future ones. This also happens with soils, with ecosystems, or with energy resources.
Other consequences of overpopulation
Now that you have known the two main consequences of human overpopulation, let’s look at others that are also important.
- Increase in unemployment rate: Areas that have a larger population also have greater competitiveness. This means that the chances of finding a job are considerably reduced.
- Higher energy consumption: logically the more people we are, the more resources we will use. Another example of this is the increase in electrical energy, a fundamental resource to be able to have a decent and basic standard of living.
- Decreased standard of living: This is a consequence that encompasses all the other consequences of global overpopulation. Without jobs, people are more limited and cannot enjoy a standard standard of living.
- More expensive standard of living: When we talk about overpopulation we must also understand that, based on the fact that resources are more limited and more exclusive, they become more expensive.
- Decrease in population in rural areas: It is also a negative consequence for the cities, which are the ones that welcome all these people who flee the towns. The quality of these areas also worsens because they are no longer used.
- Increase in crime: The increase in human population causes more people to lack resources. As a result of this, some individuals see no other solution than to commit acts of vandalism since they cannot find jobs.
- Health risks: as a consequence of pollution, climate change and bad water, the diseases that are transmitted will become increasingly deadly.
- Technological development: The last of the 10 consequences of overpopulation is good, since the more people gather, the more research is done to find solutions. With this, sustainable alternatives arrive, such as Smart Cities.
Now that you have seen 10 consequences of overpopulation, let’s see some solutions for it.
Solutions for overpopulation
Solutions to global overpopulation can be approached from three basic perspectivesbelow we explain them to you.
Reduce the population
On the one hand, a simple solution can be provided by reducing the number of people who consume natural resources. This is the most complicated of all of them, since it requires the passage of time and the natural generational leap occurs that can allow the reduction of the population at a global level.
This possible solution seems unlikelyand all indicators affirm that, in the coming decades, world overpopulation will continue to increase. However, a possible strategy inspired by this proposal would be to give up having children and, if you have them, opt for adoption instead of reproduction.
In this way, the consumption of natural resources is reduced, since the population would not increase, but rather the existing population would be relocated, which would allow demographic pressure on the planet not to increase.
Consume less natural resources
On the other hand, another of the basic perspectives to solve the problems of world overpopulation would be to reduce the consumption of natural resources. This is one of the most effective and easy solutions to be carried out in short order.
In reality, the limit of natural resources depends largely on the rate of consumption. To give us an idea, on average, a North American or European citizen consumes thirty times what a citizen living in an African country does. This means that for every Western citizen, the planet could support thirty citizens of African countries. As you can see, this is a very big difference.
Thus, changing our consumption habits, we can reduce the effects of global overpopulation. Something as simple as:
- Dispense with your own vehicle in favor of bicycle or public transport.
- Opt for a plant-based diet.
- Reduce the number of items of clothing we purchase.
All of these options allow the planet to have a greater range of endurance when it comes to managing global overpopulation.
More efficient production
Finally, the other basic perspective that must be taken into account when providing solutions to global overpopulation is improve the efficiency of human activities. Efficiency is the relationship that exists between the resources or energy necessary to perform work, and the cost of said energy and resources that are necessary to perform said work.
In other words, improving efficiency is get more for less. An example of efficiency can be found, for example, in hydronic crops. These crops do not require soil to grow, since the plants grow in containers of water. This allows a large amount of soil to be released, as well as to dispense with the use of pesticides, since hydroponic crops are developed in cultivated environments.
Thus, natural resource needs are reduced to obtain the same results, which allows, at the same time, to also reduce the pressure exerted on the planet. However, to improve the efficiency of human activities, it is necessary to carry out R&D (Research and Development) processes, which are what allow the development of new technologies that will subsequently have applications in different areas that influence the well-being of the planet.
This is a field that cannot go unnoticed when it comes to providing solutions to global overpopulation, although it requires more time than solutions that provide short-term consumption reduction.
In the following Evidence Network article we talk to you about hydroponics, a more ecological and sustainable agriculture.
If you want to read more articles similar to World overpopulation: causes, consequences and solutionswe recommend that you enter our Globalization category.
