Is the world overpopulated? ImageImage courtesy Marc Imhoff of NASA GSFC and Christopher Elvidge of NOAA NGDC. Image by Craig Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC Danielle Caplan School of Social Sciences University of Northampton

What’s the problem? In 1998, the global population stood at approximately 6 billion people. In 2011, just 13 years later, the global population increased to 7 billion people. Is the world overpopulated, and should we be worried? Photo from WingedWolf, Flickr, CC-BY-NC-ND

UNDP – Projected Global Population Growth However, Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is in decline = 2010 = In 2000, the global population was growing at approximately 78 million people a year. By 2012, the global population was growing at approximately 83 million people a year. Population Institute (2012) The Royal Society (2012, p.21) United Nations (2013) If TFR is in decline, why is the global population still growing? Increased number of women at childbearing age + increase in life expectancy = Rise in population Image from Wikipedia Commons, CC-BY-SAWikipedia Commons Permission has been granted to use the Figure

Does the planet have enough resources for 7 Billion people? Humans extract and use 50% more natural resources today than 30 years ago. It takes the world 1.5 years to regenerate what is consumed in 1 year. People in rich, developed countries consume up to 10x more natural resources than those in poorer, developing countries. Image from Institut Escola Les Vinyes, FlickrImage from Institut Escola Les Vinyes, Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA Friends of the Earth Austria (2009)

Does the planet have enough resources for 7 Billion people? 7% of the worlds population are responsible for 50% of CO2 emissions. 1 American’s emissions are equivalent to 250 Ethiopians. Consumption is as important a topic as population, and both topics should be discussed in tandem. Barkham (2010) ImageImage from netalloy, Openclipart, Public Domainnetalloy

Is 7 billion too many? Not necessarily! It is a matter of distributing resources more equitably; and Educating people on how they can reduce their consumption levels.

The Challenges Reducing and repairing damage to the global environment. Reducing fertility rates and improving access to family planning health programmes. Reducing per capita resource consumption levels in developed countries.

The Recommendations A rapid transition away from fossil fuels. Reducing high speed consumption in developed countries. Educating women on family planning, and providing them with choices.

Conclusion The world’s population is predicted to grow for at least the next 90 years. It is important that the global community discuss population growth and its impact on the planet. It is equally as important that the global community discuss excessive resource consumption. Education is vital in changing peoples attitudes about resource consumption and family planning.

Recommended Reading Dryzek, J.S. (2013). The Politics of the Earth. 3 rd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Global Footprint Network (2013). Do we fit on the planet?

References Barkham, F. (2010). Hay Festival 2010: Overpopulation fears nonsense, says author Fred Pearce. The Guardian. overpopulation-nonsense. overpopulation-nonsense Friends of the Earth Austria (2009). Overconsumption? Our use of the worlds natural resources. Friends of the Earth. Population Institute (2011). From 6 billion to 7 billion. How population growth is changing and challenging our world: How population growth is changing and challenging our world. 6b-to-7b.pdf. 6b-to-7b.pdf The Royal Society (2012). People and the Planet. The Royal Society Science Policy Centre Report. planet/ PeoplePlanet.pdf. planet/ PeoplePlanet.pdf United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision, Highlights and Advance Tables. Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP