Week 4 Blog

“Some people believe that our most important goal should be to sharply reduce the rate of population growth in developing countries where 97% of the world’s population growth is expected to take place. Others argue that the most serious environmental problems stem from high levels of resource consumption per person in developed countries, which use 88% of the world’s resources and have much larger ecological footprints per person than do developing countries.



What is your view on this issue? Explain your response” (Miller and Spoolman,2009, p. 93).


Population growth in developing countries and high levels of resource consumption in developed countries are both serious environmental problems. People in developing countries are focused on having enough food and water for survival rather than the impact of population growth. Is it fair that half the world’s population are living in extreme poverty surviving on less than $2 a day (Miller & Spoolman, 2009) when there are people spending billions of dollars on goods and services, depleting the worlds non renewable resources and increasing ecological footprints only to make their lives more luxurious and efficient (Shah, 2010)?


There are 1 billion children in this world in poverty (Shah, 2010), lacking food, water, shelter, health care, sanitation and education. Reducing population growth in developing countries will help condense poverty, which is a major cause of environmental problems. Each year in developing countries 52 million pregnancies are unwanted. (Miller & Spoolman, 2009). To ensure every baby is wanted it is vital to provide family planning services to control these unpleasant figures. In China sons are the preferred child as they are brought up to work and support their parents, this has lead to an enormous rate of baby girls abandoned or left in orphanages (YouTube, 2009). Not only will poverty decrease if population growth was controlled but the depletion of the earth’s forests, grasslands, wildlife and fisheries will be maintained as pressure for land, food and water will decrease.


Population growth can cause environmental impact but no more than what is spent on modern technology, new cars and cosmetics every year in developed countries. The need for these products is putting strain on the earth’s natural capital and polluting the earth with gases and wastes (Miller & Spoolman, 2009). The use of oil for plastics, paint, cleaning fluids and vehicle transportation are causing pollution in the air and water as well as releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when burnt. The United States of America use 24% of the world’s oil production and only produce 9% (Miller & Spoolman, 2009). At this rate the world will need to find a substitute within 50 years as it is a non renewable resource.

“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” – Aldo Leopard (Miller & Spoolman, 2009, p.16)

Providing universal education, family planning and implementing population policies will benefit the world however it is up to humans to rethink the impact of resource consumption to live in an environmentally sustainable society.


Reference List


Berg, S. (2010). Environmental effect of Population Growth. Retrieved on August 26th, 2010 from: http://www.ehow.com/about_5092984_environmental-effects-population-growth.html


Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. E. (2009). Sustaining the earth. (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brookes/Cole


Shah, A. (2010). Consumption and Consumerism. Retrieved on August 26th, 2010 from: http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerism


Shah, A. (2010). Poverty Facts and Stats. Retrieved on August 26th, 2010 from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats


YouTube. (2009). Rethinking the ‘one child’ policy. Retrieved on August 26th, 2010 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ala_GkUE8lk&feature=related