POPULATION GROWTH
In population growth many factors are correlated such as population size, consumption of resources, technology used to obtain energy and environmental impact associated.Population growth is simply the increase in number of individuals.
POPULATION SIZE AND RESOURCES CONSUMPTION
Population size is the number of individuals. Resource consumption is defined as the use of resources (materials and energy) by humans. People in the developed countries use the resources in excess. The average US child greatly deplete the resources and cause environmental impact than dozen or more children in other developing countries do. According to Worldwatch Institute in Washington, Americans consume 10 billion tons of resources each year. This large consumption of resources by US and other developed countries lead to major environmental impact and over consumption of resources.
PEOPLE OVERPOPULATION AND CONSUMPTION OVERPOPULATION
People overpopulation is caused due to large number of people. Environment is affected by the overpopulation even if these people consume less resources. This problem is seen in the developing countries where overpopulation is a major issue.
Consumption overpopulation is caused by the consumption of resources by large population. When each person in a population consumes too many resources.
In both cases the environment is badly affected. Environmental effects through population overpopulation and consumption overpopulation are same. Example of consumption overpopulation is that the the developed countries accounts for 20 % of world population but they consume the more than half of its resources. These countries are also responsible for 75 % of the pollution.
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: A MODEL
There are three factors that are responsible for environmental impact and these are:
- Number of People (P)
- Affluence per individual (A)
- Environmental impact of Technologies used to gain resources (T)
Affluence is the count of resources used per individual.
The equation can be written as:
I=P×A×T
This model was first projected by biologist Paul R. Ehrlich. The example that can best explain this model is of impact of CO2 emissions released from cars. In this by multiplying the population (number of people that are driving cars) with Affluence per individual (to how many miles the car has been driven) and impact of technology (CO2 emissions per mile), impact of CO2 emissions from cars has been obtained.
The impacts associated with these emissions are global warming, air pollution, water pollution, ozone depletion and solid waste pollution. If Population and resource consumption has been controlled than environmental impact can also be controlled. If the more better technology is used that consume less fuel or that emissions are less in atmosphere and their danger is less such as fuel efficient cars utilization than environmental impact can also be reduced.
