Why is human population growth an environmental problem?

Fill It In … Sketch a graph of human population growth: Industrial Revolution

Causes of human population growth Agricultural Revolution People settle into communities and more people were needed for division of labor More reliable food supply can support a larger population

Causes of human population growth Industrial Revolution In the early 20th century technological advancements led to improvements in medicine and sanitation, allowing for an increased birth rate and decreased death rate.

Causes of human population growth Urbanization (development of cities) leads to economic and social development which influence human populations.

Effects of human population Increased pollution - air, water, and land ALL pollution problems relate back to overpopulation. Pollutants are produced as waste products from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and use of consumer goods.

Effects of human population Solid waste requires disposal in landfills or incineration.

Effects of human population Decreased natural resources, especially nonrenewable resources (available only in limited amounts) Ex. fossil fuels, minerals, metals

Effects of human population Increased land use - leads to loss of habitat for other species.

Census data Demographers construct histograms to use in predicting future population growth trends field called “demography” Developing & Developed & Developed & Growing Stable Decreasing

Fill It In … Draw the three basic shapes: Increasing - Stable - Decreasing -

Solution = ZPG - zero population growth (birth rate = death rate) Limit number of births per family by offering tax incentives Ex. China Make birth control and family planning more available Educate public and our political leaders =

Solution Conservation - wise and careful use of resources through environmental stewardship Twenty percent of the world’s population uses more than fifty percent of the world’s resources.

Solution People in developed countries (like the U.S.) can decrease resource use by the 3 R’s: Reduce - use less materials; for example, buying products that have less packaging Reuse - use products more than once; for example, bring lunch in Tupperware instead of one-use containers Recycle - return products to be re-processed; for example, old tires are used to make track surfaces

Solution Sustainability ensuring the availability of resources and a stable environment for future generations

Fill It In … Give an example of one human action that is NOT sustainable:

Check Yourself! What were three causes of human population growth? Why does human population growth lead to increased pollution? How do people, particularly those in developed countries, need to lessen the impact of human population growth? Why is the pyramid-shaped histogram characteristic of a growing population?

Check Yourself! What were three causes of human population growth? AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION, INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, & URBANIZATION Why does human population growth lead to increased pollution? How do people, particularly those in developed countries, need to lessen the impact of human population growth? Why is the pyramid-shaped histogram characteristic of a growing population?

Check Yourself! What were three causes of human population growth? AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION, INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, & URBANIZATION Why does human population growth lead to increased pollution? POLLUTANTS ARE PRODUCED AS WASTE PRODUCTS FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES How do people, particularly those in developed countries, need to lessen the impact of human population growth? Why is the pyramid-shaped histogram characteristic of a growing population?

Check Yourself! What were three causes of human population growth? AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION, INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, & URBANIZATION Why does human population growth lead to increased pollution? POLLUTANTS ARE PRODUCED AS WASTE PRODUCTS FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES How do people, particularly those in developed countries, need to lessen the impact of human population growth? USE THE THREE R’S AND SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS Why is the pyramid-shaped histogram characteristic of a growing population?

Check Yourself! What were three causes of human population growth? AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION, INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, & URBANIZATION Why does human population growth lead to increased pollution? POLLUTANTS ARE PRODUCED AS WASTE PRODUCTS FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES How do people, particularly those in developed countries, need to lessen the impact of human population growth? USE THE THREE R’S AND SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS Why is the pyramid-shaped histogram characteristic of a growing population? BIRTH RATE IS HIGHER THAN DEATH RATE (BOTTOM IS BIGGER THAN TOP)