From Guest Blogger Lauren Williamson: Population Growth Leads To Environmental Destruction Globally
Evolution of Climate: In the year 1880, the annual global temperature average was -0.19 °C to -0.11 °C, and by the year 2017, it raised to 0.9 to 0.95 °C. Be Careful! It only took 137 years to get this hot, what will happen in the next 100 years?
A single-degree celsius rise in the temperature can cause the glaciers to melt significantly, threatening the lives of millions of people, it will also aggravate climate-related diseases, causing deaths around the world and, it might also destroy the marine ecosystem completely because of sudden temperature shift.
Climatic Changes
Due to overpopulation, the limited area and the limited resources are being depleted at a terrifying rate, which is driving negative forces towards worldwide ecological and environmental destruction. The environmental changes which used to take hundreds of years before is now happening within a few years; a warning for all of us. Environmental degradation can be elaborated as follows:
- Global Temperature Rise
- Warming Oceans
- Shrinking Ice Sheets
- Glacial Retreat
- Decreased Snow Cover
- Sea Level Rise
- Extreme Events
- Ocean Acidification
- Declining Arctic Sea Ice
Effects Of Overpopulation
Overpopulation is the most critical cause of most of the environmental issues, consuming resources faster than their rate of regeneration. The following are some devastating effects of overpopulation, which is disrupting the balance of nature and causing severe damage to everything around us:
- Loss of freshwater
Even though 75% of Earth’s surface is covered with water, only 2.5% of it is freshwater. 70% of that water is glaciers and ice caps, and the remaining is rivers, ponds, lakes, and groundwater. Most of that water is polluted or not reachable; making only 1% freshwater accessible for direct human use. Many reports are predicting that in a few years, the demand for freshwater will exceed the supply by 50%. Freshwater ecosystem covers only 1% of Earth’s surface, and due to the increase in overpopulation, we are not only depleting our most fundamental finite resource but also destroying the freshwater ecosystem (endangering species) along with it.
A study shows that more than 800 million people live without the access to safe water, and every few seconds a person dies because of some water-related disease. This expresses the need to conserve water for the survival of humans as well as other species on Earth.
Wake up and start saving water now!
- Species Extinction
A study has shown that human beings are responsible for causing worldwide extinction for a lot of species. The rate has increased tremendously in a few centuries; 1000 to 10000 times faster than normal. Naturally, the rate should be one extinction per million species per year, but the current rate extinction is 30000 species per year or 3 species per hour. It is believed that if the current trends continue, then half of all the plant and animal species will be extinct within a few decades. If we don’t take action towards preserving these species, we are not only destroying beautiful creatures but also imbalance the food chain.
- Depletion of Natural Resources
A study by the UNEP Global Environment Outlook states that every person needs to use 1/3rd more land to cater to his requirements than the planet can supply. Another study by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment expressed that virtually all the ecosystems have now been transformed through human actions. We are utilising the natural resources (renewable and non-renewable) faster than the planet can provide.
Natural resources like water, forests, oil are being used 2-3 times faster than what is considered sustainable. Can you imagine a world without trees? Can you live without water? Can we progress without fuels? The answer to all these questions is enough to raise a concern about focusing more on sustainable utilisation of resources than using everything up like crazy!
The time to take a stand against such practices is right now, so get up now!
- Increased Global Warming and Climate Change
Human-generated greenhouse gases are one of the most critical causes of ecology and biodiversity disruption. People are acknowledging this issue by reducing their carbon footprint and inventing sustainable technology. However, unsustainable population growth is disrupting the balance of nature. Even the survival of human beings is directly getting affected because of unfettered climatic changes.
If global warming keeps increasing at the same rate, then the world will face adverse conditions that may be irreversible. Sea level will rise drastically, hurricanes will be more frequent and intense, more drought conditions and heat waves, ice will melt around the world, and the temperature will continue to rise. This cycle will keep going if we don’t stop it right now.
Practice methods that prevent global warming in order to avoid a dry, desolate Earth!
- Increased Habitat Loss
A study shows that earlier rainforests covered 14% of Earth’s surface land, but now only 6% of it is left, which is also predicted to be depleted in the next 40 years or so. Even, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is predicted to be dead in some years, if the current rate of ecosystem destruction continues. Pollution and warming temperatures are some major forces which are responsible for habitat loss, and all these forces are accelerated by uncontrolled population growth.
World Population Increase Trends
- 1 Billion in 1804
- 2 Billion in 1927 (123 years)
- 3 Billion in 1960 (33 years)
- 4 Billion in 1974 (14 years)
- 5 Billion in 1987 (13 years)
- 6 Billion in 1999 (12 years)
- 7 Billion in 2011 (12 years)
- 8 Billion (Predicted) will be in 2022 (11.5 years)
Such statistics show how the population is increasing at an alarming rate, being responsible for all the consequences mentioned above. The effects of increasing population on the environment is devastating, and it increases compound.
Growth can lead to human extinction, so we need to grow carefully, in a limited manner.
What To Do?
There are many methods that we can practice; from using less of vehicles and other non-renewable resources to avoiding waste generation and irregular disposal. The mortality rate is increasing significantly, which needs to be controlled to curb the above-mentioned overpopulation problems.
Having one fewer child will save 58.6 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year.
Checklist
Checklist to survive a little longer:
- Regular health checkups to diagnose and cure severe diseases like AIDS, Cancer and many others.
- Regular property check up to prevent radon and other harmful gas emissions.
- Careful utilisation of resources and disposal of generated waste.
- Controlling pollution and practices that cause it.
We are not heading towards the future, but regressing to the Stone Age.
