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The Effects Of Overpopulation On The Environment

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Dipping our feet into the 21st century, ripe with knowledge and innovation, populations are multiplying globally. Overpopulation is a major issue, affecting both the earth and it’s inhabitants. The exponential rise of the human race directly affects the exponential downfall of the environment it rises over. Water is becoming polluted and scarce, land is shrinking, and extensive use of fuel is contaminating the atmosphere. Deforestation and global climate change are causing a downfall in biodiversity around the world. One can argue that overpopulation is the cause of all these phenomena, and one could argue differently. As with all scientific questions, results will be collected, questioned, and discussed. Does overpopulation globally impact the environment?
With the increase in population size, the increase in consumption, and the earth remaining the same size, future sustainability is uncertain. Sustainability relies on natural resources including land, water, and energy, as well as the size of the population consuming the resources. Based upon the Population Reference Bureau 2005, “the world population is projected to double its current number of 6.5 billion in about 58 years, based on the current growth rate of 1.2% per year” (Pimentel 2006:155-161). The global population is currently producing roughly 2.8 children per family. Even if a global policy was put forth, restricting families to only having two children, the world population would continue to grow for 70 more

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