Irrespective of the type of overpopulation definition that you have heard on TV or in school, it is never great. The world population has continued to grow over the years, and the effects have become evident. There has been a very high increase in temperature and an increase in disease spread.
For many experts, the continuous increase in the earth’s population has more negatives and positives. There has been more than one overpopulation essay published to inform the world of the risk that they face. These risks have forced leaders to think of making population growth more gradual. The aim is to make it look natural to maintain a balance in the world.
However, leaders aim to do so legally and have continued to suggest that families have small members. This article will consider the causes and effects of population on the earth.
Causes of the earth’s population
Underutilized Contraceptive
This is one of the most contributing factors to a rapid increase in population. Despite their decision to manage a small family, many couples welcome new babies because of underutilized contraceptives. These days, unexpected pregnancies are very common due to poor family planning by partners involved. This, in turn, leads to overpopulation. Statistics hold that over 50% of women between the ages of 16 and 49 do not maximize contraceptives. Only a few of them undergo family planning, which causes an increase in the birth rate.
Immigration
This is the increase in number coming into a specific geographical area. Many people tend to move to more developed countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This is because of the facilities seen in these nations. They include a good security system, employment opportunities, education, and medical facilities.
Employment opportunity is one of the major causes of massive immigration. People from developing and under-developed nations come into developed countries like the ones mentioned above to seek greener pastures. It is one of the aims of citizens of many developing countries. This leads to overcrowding of the developed countries.
This massive immigration leads to more demand for basic amenities such as energy, food, and clothes. As more persons from other places troop into a particular area, there is bound to be a shortage of resources.
Agricultural Development
Availability of food is a basic need of every nation around the world. This is because food is needed for the survival of the occupants of that particular area. So, there is bound to be an increase in population in places with rapid Agricultural advancement. Also, because of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, food production is now increased. This, in turn, leads to population explosion and overcrowding.
Effects on The Earth’s Population
Ecological Degradation
Due to the rapid increase in population, there are a lot of human actions that negatively affect the habitat. Many of the activities carried out daily to make a living end up leaving a negative impact on man’s environment. Even the overuse of coals has been seen to cause dangerous effects on our environment.
Other activities, for instance, the increase in industrial development, leading to the production of many vehicles, affect our air. This is because of the incomplete combustion and the release of harmful gases from vehicles. These harmful gases affect the life of man ad could cause death if not properly controlled.
Another ecological degradation faced due to overcrowding is global warming, caused by the increased release of CO2. The human habitat is faced with increased pollution that is very dangerous to the health of us, the inhabitants. This also affects the lives of plants and animals, leading to a shortage of food.
Higher Risk of Disasters And Pandemic
Disasters and pandemics are significant overcrowding feedbacks. As population and human activities increase, there tend to be health disasters, among others. Overcrowding leads to poverty, and poverty is linked to unhygienic conditions resulting in poor health. This makes the inhabitants of that geographical vulnerable to health disasters and pandemics. People get exposed to infectious diseases, which are easily spread because of overcrowding. More so, the rate of emergence of pandemics and epidemics is increased. This leads to an unusual increase in death rate and depletion of the human habitat.
Conclusion
Whether you are a college student or do not have a formal degree, the issue of overpopulation is not new. The threat that overpopulation poses is accurate, and this article has moved to outline them. As it is currently, the only hope of control is through family planning.