Population Growth and Resources - Example

Population Growth and Resources Institution Date Lecturer World population has reached over 7 billion people where the world gains 78 million people yearly. However, there are observed trends of fertility levels decline which leads to an estimation of 9.1 billion people in 2050. The yearly increase forecasted by then will be about 33 million people. It is noted that most of the population additional, approximately 2.3 billion people will comprise of population in the developing countries. The total population in developing countries is expected to continually rise from the 5.8 billion in 2010 to 7.9 billion by 2050. This will be distributed in age 15-59. In addition, children under 15 years will significantly decrease in the developing countries. In contrast, developed population in the developed regions will minimally change from 1.23 to 1.15 billion. However, projected net migration of people from developing to developed countries at an average of 2.4 million annually will significantly increase the population to 1.28 billion by 2050 ((Iran) MOJ Agency) Many governments are currently concerned about excessive population growth and its consequences. This is particularly in line with sustainable development and economic growth. This is majorly a salient concern in developing countries. The UN reported that, in 2007, half of these countries viewed the growth of their population as too high even though the rates of growth are minimally declining. The pressures on resources have been a critical fact that has led the developing countries and the world at large to consider the importance of halting the high rates population growth. This is seen as a solution to ease the mounting pressure which faces renewable and non-renewable world resources. Alongside there is growing tension of climate change, food insufficiency, social services and employment opportunities which determine a lot for people’s survival. It is on this basis that some believe that population growth will eventually outstrip world resources. The threat of population growth is a major concern to international organizations, governments and population at large. Africa region is the most concerned as it has the highest percentage, 66% of those countries which viewed population growth to be too high in 2007. In Asia 45% viewed this growth as too high but substantial fertility declines are having been noted there. Generally, the both developing and enveloped countries are concerned since the climatic change adverse effects are not bound to any single administrative boundaries. Climate change directly affects the trends of agricultural production. It poses grave challenges to the whole world since its wide ranging implications over human being and security are precarious (Brown). The declining resources in most parts of the world, particularly agricultural land in developing countries mean and will continue to increase armed conflict over most resources. It will also promote large-scale migrations of people across national bounders and within nations. 2.4 million People are projected to migrate from developing countries to developed ones from 2009-2050 leading also to significant rise of population and demands of resources (Brown). It is also estimated that there will be about 150 million refugees in 2050 which will result from coastal flooding, agricultural disruption and shoreline erosion which are effects of climate change. Scarcity of land and water lead to competition on vital resources which intensify in the societies. This case is particularly with the rich and the dispossessed and poor. Shrinking life-supporting resources is a threat to the dropping of living standards for million who are currently under survival level. This provides encouraging grounds for unmanageable social tensions. Land access is mainly a source of tension. Grain land has reduced halfway from 0.23 ha per person in 1950 – 0.10 ha in 2007. Much of it has been set for the building affluent suburb for the rich and the world farmers are under a threat to feed 70 million people in yearly increase ((Iran) MOJ Agency). Subsistence societies are under dire threat by this shrinkage of crop land. Their survival is threatened and tension rises as landholdings shrink beyond what is needed for their survival A number of recent tensions have been in Sudan and Sahelian zone. In Sudan 2 million people were killed and 4 million displaced in a conflict between camel-herders Muslims and northern-Sudanese. As grassland turns into desert in Sahel, Somalia herders are forced southward toward farming areas. Overgrazing and declining rainfall intensifies the destruction of grasslands. This is also the case in Nigeria where there are divisions between farmers and herders on land use. Rwanda is a classic case involved with mounting pressures leading to conflict, political tension and social tragedy in early 1990s. The Central Asia Aral Sea basin has uneasy arrangement for the five countries who share two main rivers in the area. The demand of water in the area has already exceeded the supply by 25% (Brown). Hindus and Muslims in India engage in deep tension as generation subdivides small plots. Water is even greater threatened resources. There have been various disagreements over water allocation among countries. Those who share water have had international political conflict. This is mainly seen in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over River Nile waters. Egypt greatly share in it but its growing population from 80 million to 121 in 2050 will mean ways to gain more water. All these countries food growth depends on this river but the increase in population as projected will demand additional means of producing more food (Brown). Resources problems have been experienced including energy and water shortages. Resources and population are intertwined in a manner that a change in one begets an equal change in the other which is not yet the case. The finite resources among growing population cannot be expected to sustain an exponential growth. Increased per capita usage of energy and water is a critical concern today. A noted decrease in transport of water in the environment including rivers, groundwater systems and hotter hydrothermal systems is in decrease. Mining this water and using it for irrigation during dry periods and in arid areas might not be possible then and may not work in long run. As water table declines, energy is adversely affected. More people use more water, food and energy and this is not currently sustainable. Due to chemical reaction and effects of fossil fuels, much of drilled groundwater does not pass the standards of use and still the water in non-renewable. In the past 50 years, energy demand and use has increased more that population growth itself. Development policies are expected to urgently address the population situation. This will be in line with a renewed commitment to meet global Millennium Development Goals. In 2000, the 193 member states of UN and many international organizations agreed on these goals by 2015. Among the much emphasized goals were to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality by empowering women, reduce the mortality rates of children, and improve maternal health, combat malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases. Key still on resources is the goals to ensure environmental sustainability and develop global partnership in development. In response, many countries have implemented programs toward some or all of the above goals. New commitments are visualized on children and women health. There have been initiatives which are set to battle poverty, disease and hunger. This is not done by single country but also with the help of UN, Global Poverty Project and others (Criss). In consideration of the goal of environmental sustainability, it is possible to see how the world at large is concerned with population growth and resource sustenance. Target A of this goal integrate sustainable development principles in country programs and policies which is meant to reverse environmental resources loss. Target B entails reduction of biodiversity loss in line with forest land, CO2 emissions, consumption of substances that deplete the ozone, fish stocks, total water resources, marine and terrestrial areas and extinction rates of threatened species. Target C is meant to halve the population proportion without access to sustainable supply of basic sanitation and safe drinking water. Both urban and rural require sustainable access to improved water source and urban population with improved sanitation. Target D is set to halve the 100 million slum-dwellers and significantly improve their lives. The world has shown increased zeal to invest in family planning. This has been ascertained by political rallies, campaigns and debates in the name of population growth. Investments in reproductive health, economic opportunities, girls’ education, women empowerment and youth funding are identified ways for the developing countries which is meant to speed up demographic transitions. Economic growth is expected when these countries achieve demographic change. United Nations Population Fund has in the past years enabled nations to participate in learning about reproductive health and population growth. Many countries see reduced population growth rates with an exception of Africa (Criss). However, the things are not bleak as in the past years. Medical, environmental and logistical reasons are critical for the consideration of these efforts. This actually controls the age of giving birth in such a way that women does not give birth to too many children. The policies however still need to grasp great risks which are presently in the approaches in play. Work Cited (Iran), MOJ News Agency. Impacts of world population growth on resources and economic growth. 27 May 2009. 2013 March 05 . Brown, Lester. When Population Growth And Resource Availability Collide. 17 Feb 2009. 2013 March 05 . Criss, Robert. Population Growth Puts Dent In Natural Resources. 10 Oct 2008. 05 March 2013 . Read More