Part 2: Environmental Issues
and the search for
solutions
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Chapter 8: Human Population
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its approaching 7 billion
population growth rate is at 1.2%
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U.S.Population Growth 2000-2012
U.S.Population

Effect of Population on the Environment
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Population as a Factor that affect the
Environment
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As population increases it takes more space,
resources and generates waste
IPAT model
I= impact
P= population
A= affluence
T= technology
I=PxAxT
Other factors to consider
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
many factors could be considered but the most
important ones are:
Sensitive factor
–
–
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if the environment where the population is located is
sensitive to human pressure, that factor (S) has to be
considered as well
I=PxAxTxS
pollution
resource consumption

Effect of Population Growth on the Environment
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Demography


study of human population
environmental impact depends on
–
–
–
–
density
distribution
technology
composition
Density and Distribution
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clumped distribution
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highest in temperate, subtropical and tropical
–
–
–
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cities and towns
Europe
China and India
Africa
lowest in extreme-climate biomes, have high S value
in IPAT
–
–
–
desert
tundra
deep rainforest
Age Distribution: low vs. high growth
rate
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China
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US Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers
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Dallas Census
Dallas Census
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Factors Affecting Population Growth

birth rate
–

death rate
–
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declined due to birth pill and education
declines due to technology
immigration and emigration
–
created environmental degradation in areas
where war caused people to flee


Rwanda genocide in the 80's
Sudan civil war
Total Fertility Rate
Average number of children
born per female individual,
during lifetime
Factors that lower the #
-low children mortality rates
-increasing urbanization
-children impose costs
-women in the workforce
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Life Expectancy
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average number of years a person is
expected to live from birth.
increase in life expectancy
reduced rates of infant mortality
–
–
–
–
urbanization
industrialization
personal wealth
improved quality of life

Demographic Transition
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Woman's Rights
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contraceptive availability
education
opportunities
personal freedom
of choice
as a result children
are better cared for
as a consequence the environment is less affected
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Population Policies and Family
Planning

China- 1.3 billon people
–

India- 1 billion people
–
–
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one child policy since the 70s
sterilization
two child policy
incentives
education
contraception
reproductive health care

Poverty Strongly Correlated with Population Growth
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
Poverty vs Population Growth
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GNI= gross national income
PPP= purchasing power parity
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Consumption from Affluent Societies
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can be equal or worse than a high density poor
population
affluent societies consume resources from other
localities plus theirs
larger footprints
1 American= 6 Chinese=12 Indians/Ethiopians
humans live 25% above the environment's carrying
capacity
global sustainability is needed
HIV/AIDS
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67.5% of infected population is in the sub-Sahara
desert
high natality
high mortality
life expectancy dropped from 59 to 40 in the last
decade
Caribbean and Southeast Asia is next
–
10 million expected to be infected between 2005-2010
Demographic Changes due to
HIV/AIDS

young productive citizens are affected by HIV/AIDS
–
–
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demographic fatigue
–
–
–
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Zambia: 600 teachers die of AIDS, 300 are graduated per
year
Rwanda: 1:3 of the college educated are infected
government is overwhelmed by demands
stretched beyond capabilities
government collapses and chaos arises
THE END