The world’s population has exceeded seven billion, and is predicted to reach nine billion by 2050. The United States population alone is expected to double in 70 years, due in part to immigration. Although population growth in developing countries for the most part has stagnated and birth rates are falling, population growth is predicted to continue into the next century. Population growth tends to be most rapid in developing countries, which are less equipped to handle the increased demand for resources.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, overpopulation occurs when a population’s density exceeds the capacity of the environment to supply the health requirements of an individual. So is population growth sustainable for the future and can the earth’s essential resources keep up with the growth? There are many factors that must be considered in regards to carrying capacity. Food distribution and production are integral to the continuation of our population. Currently, millions already go hungry. This is not due entirely to scarcity, as food production rates are growing faster than the global population. Rather, it is because of wealth disparities, grains becoming biofuels, and distribution. The availability of clean water is especially concerning, as only 3 percent of the earth’s water is freshwater. Water rights will become hotly contested in upcoming years, as demand increases. Another issue that arises is waste management, as more people means more waste, and there are public health implications to waste management. Many hold that innovation in food production is essential for providing enough food for our rapidly growing population. This could be through mechanisms like biotechnology or improved irrigation. Perhaps new innovations will emerge in the future. Even with a multitude of concerns for the sustainability of our future, population growth does not receive much attention in public discourse.
Written by Leslie Wolf, Class of 2015
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