Human Population Growth and Consumption Insights
Explore the historical evolution of human population, current statistics, potential peak projections, benefits and drawbacks of large populations, proposed solutions for managing population growth, and the impact of overconsumption on the environment.
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Presentation Transcript
CHAPTER 9 POPULATION AND CONSUMPTION
SOME STATISTICS ABOUT HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH HUMAN POPULATION * IN ROMAN TIMES: 190 MILLION IN 1803: I BILLION IN 1960: 3 BILLION
STATS (CONTD): 2020: 7.8 BILLION 2024: 8.2 BILLION MAIN REASONS FOR RAPID POPULATION GROWTH IN RECENT CENTURIES: ADVANCEMENTS IN MEDICINE, IMPROVED SANITATION, IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURE.
HUMAN POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO PEAK AT 9-10 BILLION BY 2050- 2100, AND THEN SLOWLY DECLINE. POPULATION GROWTH IS NOW SLOWING DRAMATICALLY DUE TO DECLINING FERTILITY RATES. LOW BIRTH RATES ARE BECOMING A PROBLEM IN JAPAN, ITALY, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE DEVELOPED WORLD. NEARLY ALL COUNTRIES WITH HIGH POPULATION GROWTH STATES ARE IN AFRICA.
THE UPSIDES OF LARGE POPULATIONS: * INCOME SUPPORT FOR SENIORS * LARGER WORKFORCE * STRONGER ECONOMY * GREATER CHANCE OF ANOTHER EINSTEIN OR JOE DIMAGGIO
DOWNSIDES: * RISK OF FAMINES (BUT EXAGGERATED BY THOMAS MALTHUS AND PAUL EHRLICH) * OVERCROWDING, TRAFFIC CONGESTION, OVERTOURISTING * ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL ON THE PLANET (E.G., BIODIVERSITY LOSS, RESOURCE DEPLETION, WATER SHORTAGES, DEFORESTATION, CLIMATE CHANGE).
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO POPULATION GROWTH: * STRONG INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES (E.G., TAXES ON LARGE FAMILIES, INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTARY STERILIZATION, PROVISION OF FOOD AID ONLY TO COUNTRIES THAT COMMIT TO POPULATION CONTROL).
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO POPULATION GROWTH (CONT D): * FAMILY PLANNING AID AND RELIANCE ON DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION : THE SHIFT TO LOWER BIRTHRATES THAT USUALLY RESULTS FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZATION.
PROBLEMS OF (OVER) CONSUMPTION ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS RESULT NOT ONLY FROM OVERPOPULATION, BUT ALSO FROM HIGH RATES OF CONSUMPTION AND WASTE, ESPECIALLY BY THE AFFLUENT.
EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WORSENED BY OVERCONSUMPTION: * FOOD WASTE (30-40% IN THE U.S.) AND OVER-FLOWING LAND FILLS * HIGH RATES OF BEEF CONSUMPTION (CONTRIBUTING TO DEFORESTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WORSENED BY OVERCONSUMPTION (CONT D): * AIR TRAVEL (RESPONSIBLE FOR 6% OF CARBON EMISSIONS) * PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS AND MICROPLASTICS EVERYWHERE * ROADSIDE TRASH * LOSS OF FARMLANDS AND BIODIVERSITY DUE TO SUBURBAN SPRAWL
WHY DO PEOPLE CONSUME SO MUCH? GLOBALLY, CONSUMPTION RATES CLOSELY TRACK MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME. SO, THE BIGGEST FACTOR SEEMS TO BE SIMPLY ABILITY TO CONSUME.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH CONSUMPTION RATES IN THE U.S. MAY INCLUDE: * HIGH IMMIGRATION RATES FROM PEOPLE SEEKING THE AMERICAN DREAM. * ADVERTISING * LARGE NUMBERS WHO BELIEVE THAT MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO HIGH CONSUMPTION RATES IN THE U.S. (CONT D): * DESIRE TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES RESULTING FROM RELATIVE DEPRIVATION EFFECT DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF INCOME INEQUALITY.
ARE CURRENT CONSUMPTION RATES SUSTAINABLE? WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? ONE WIDELY ACCEPTED DEFINITION: A PATTERN OF CONSUMPTION THAT MEETS OUR OWN WANTS AND NEEDS WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIRS.
ARE CURRENT CONSUMPTION RATES SUSTAINABLE? WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? (CONT D): NOTE THAT A BROADER DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABILITY WOULD INCLUDE NOT ONLY HUMAN WANTS AND NEEDS, BUT WIDER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AS WELL, INCLUDING WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR ECOSYSTEM HEALTH.
BY THIS DEFINITION, MANY CURRENT CONSUMPTION RATES ARE CLEARLY NOT SUSTAINABLE. EXAMPLES: CARBON EMISSIONS, WATER USAGE, WASTE GENERATION, OCEAN FISHING, FOREST PRODUCTS, CONCRETE.
DO THE WEALTHY HAVE A MORAL RIGHT TO LIVE HIGH- CONSUMPTION LIFESTYLES? SOME FEEL THAT THEY VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO DO SO (E.G., BY CONTRIBUTING PRODUCTIVELY, SAVING RESPONSIBLY, ETC.). AGREE? QUERY: ARE SUCH VIEWS HARDER TO DEFEND GIVEN WHAT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?
SHOULD PEOPLE NOW OPT FOR LOW-CONSUMPTION LIFESTYLES? AS WE HAVE SEEN, MANY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICISTS (E.G., DEEP ECOLOGISTS) CLAIM THAT WE SHOULD.
WHY SHIFT TO A LOW- CONSUMPTION LIFESTYLE? TWO COMMON ARGUMENTS: 1. IT S GOOD FOR THE PLANET. 2. IT S GOOD FOR THE SOUL (LEADS TO GREATER HAPPINESS, LESS STRESS, MORE TIME TO DO THINGS YOU ENJOY, ETC.) (DEFENDED BY THOREAU AND ADVOCATES OF VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY. )
BUT ITS IMPORTANT TO NOTE: 1. THE ECONOMIC COSTS OF DRASTICALLY REDUCED CONSUMER SPENDING. 2. FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE OR DESIRABLE FOR A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL TO QUICKLY SHIFT TO A LOW-CONSUMPTION LIFESTYLE.
WHAT SEEMS CLEAR: CURRENT CONSUMPTION LEVELS OF MANY PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM. THOUGH A RAPID SHIFT TO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER CONSUMPTION LEVELS MAY NOT BE WISE OR FEASIBLE, IT MAKES SENSE TO PLAN FOR A WORLD THAT LAYS GREATER STRESS ON QUALITY OF LIFE THAN ON MATERIAL CONSUMPTION AND ENDLESS ECONOMIC GROWTH.
