Lec 5

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Population Growth

and its effect on the


environment
Week 5
What is Population?

Population is defined as a group of individuals of the same


species living and interbreeding within a given area.
What is Over Population?
Overpopulation is the state whereby the
human population rises to an extent exceeding
the carrying capacity of the ecological setting.

More people means an increased demand for


food, water, housing, energy, healthcare,
transportation, and more.

And all that consumption contributes to


ecological degradation, increased conflicts, and a
higher risk of large-scale disasters like
pandemics.
What is Carrying Capacity?

In ecology, carrying capacity refers to an environment’s


maximum load. The physical characteristics of the
surroundings function as restraints (e.g. food, water,
competition, etc.).
Ecological foot print

The ecological footprint is a method promoted by the Global Footprint Network to measure human demand
on natural capital, i.e. the quantity of nature it takes to support people or an economy.
The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to
sustain their use of natural resources.
Population Growth
• refers to the increase in the number of individuals in a population in a
particular year.

where is the final population, is the initial population, is the growth rate
and is the time.
Population Growth
Population growth and the economy
The link between population growth and development can
be understood through a simple model, called the
‘demographic transition.’

The model of demographic transition has five stages, which


we explain in the next chart.
Stage 1: Population is stable. There is
high fertility and high mortality; so
deaths and births cancel out.

Stage 2: Population grows rapidly. There


is high fertility but low mortality.

Stage 3: Population growth slows down.


Social norms adapt to the fact that
children survive. Fertility declines with
increasing education and labor
opportunities of women.

Stage 4: Population growth stops. Low


fertility catches up with low mortality.

Stage 5: Population potentially starts


growing again. The evidence here is
limited, but the idea is that 
further social and economic opportuniti
es may raise fertility again

What is the IPAT Equation?
What is the IPAT Equation?
Environmental impact (I): can be considered in terms of resource depletion and
waste accumulation.

Population (P): refers to the size of the human population

Affluence (A): refers to the levels of consumption by that population.

Technology (T): refers to the processes used to obtain resources and transform them
into useful goods and wastes.
Reasons for Overpopulation
• Increase of birth • Decline in Mortality rate due to medical advances

• Increase in immigration • Illiteracy


Effects of Population growth

Overstress of natural resources


• Depletion of nature resources.
• The encroachment of land for human needs .
Effects of Population growth

Increase on demand of food, water


and service
• Scarcity of food and water.
• Shortage in agriculture land.
• Rush in transportation, medical, education facilities,
etc.
Effects of Population growth

Generating of huge quantity of


waste
• Excessive generation of domestic wastewater,
industrial effluents and solid state.
• Disposal problems resulting in water, air and land
pollution.
Effects of Population growth
Other effects
The oceans, coral reefs and their bounty are in dangers.
Water pollution including Deforestation and loss of
ground aquifers. oxygenation
.

National parks, wildernesses and wetlands.


Reduction in living standards. Increase in unemployment.
Effects of Population growth
Other effects
Development of slump area. High crime rate.
Energy crisis.

Poverty increase. Low per capita income.


Deterioration in the quality of
the environment.
Is population Growth: a key factor in climate
change?
Population Growth

Green house effect

Global warming

Climate change
What are the likely impacts global warming upon the world,
and can the possible adverse impacts be eliminated or reduced?

1. Population – Decreasing the number of population.

2. Energy/Person : energy per person or per capita ----


Applying energy conservation policies.

3. Using renewable energy resources ---- Solar – Wind-


Hydropower – Biomass- Tidal energy – Geothermal
Energy Production.

4. Increasing Vegetation Covers for CO2 Absorption

5. We can not modify this factor it depends on the


physiochemical properties of CO2 .

6. We can not modify this factor because it is non-


controllable Factor, also, it depends on ice melting
temperature.
Is biodiversity in dangerous due to
population growth?

Population growth and increasing


resource consumption affect
biodiversity in two ways:
• they create pressure to convert wildlife
habitat into agricultural and urban land.
• they produce wastes that pollute habitat
and poison wildlife.
What is the solution?
• How do we solve the delicate problem of population growth and environmental limitations?

A bigger pie:
Technical
innovation

Suggested
solutions
Fewer forks:
Better
Education
manners:
and policy
Less is more
change
A bigger pie: Technical innovation
Use technology and innovation to overcome
issues related to population growth.

Atmospheric cleaning devices.

Genetically modified organism.

Redesign cities.

Desalinate oceans.
Fewer forks: Education and policy change

Education is the foundation of our


future, and not only because it helps to
reduce unsustainable birth-rates.
Better manners: less is more
People should be educated about their actions and its
consequences which leads to a change in behavior.  

Individuals across the world, but particularly in developed


countries, need to reassess their consumption patterns.

Governments too need to instigate shifts in environmental policy


to protect and enhance natural areas, reduce CO₂ and other
greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy sources
and focus on conservation as priorities. 
Technology’s Roles
Detailed explicit information and understanding of what is occurring

• Sensors, data processing, computers, models, predictions, communication, information…...

Alternate technologies that mitigate and eliminate deleterious effects

• Energy, water, transportation, communication…

Sustainable Development.
Engineers are vital
Developing and applying
• Measure, analyze and predict future conditions
• Mitigate and eliminate undesired effects

Describing, explaining and communicating


• To policy makers
• To the non-technical public

Creating the framework for a sustainable environment

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