Population Explosion
What accounts for the world’s population explosion? Describe its most likely consequences. What measures have been taken to slow population growth? Are these enough?
What accounts for the world’s population explosion?
The odds of there being a surge in population growth among human beings not only in specific places but also across the globe is quite substantial. According to Jantz & Manuel (2013), population explosion is simply an increase in the population of an area among people or human beings on the grounds of various underlying factors. Apparently, there are very many reasons behind the world’s population explosions, and these are; an increase in the birthrate, which is basically as a result of lack of awareness and lack of control on delivery has always promoted population explosion in the current world. Secondly, a decrease in the infant mortality rate has also increased the population explosion. Science and technology have reduced the number of these deaths, which relatively increases population explosion. Moreover, the life expectancy rate, which was earlier low, has significantly increased as a result of better medical facilities, better nutrition, and quality food, and this has directly increased population explosion as well.
Describe its most likely consequences
There are various impacts of population explosion, and they are as follows. One is that the population explosion results in environmental degradation as natural resources such as coal air, oil, and natural gas are overused. Another effect is the rise in unemployment levels. When countries become overpopulated, the supply of labor will be greater than the demand resulting in high unemployment levels. Moreover, the high population growth also results in a high cost of living, perhaps due to the high demand for goods and services, resulting in high costs of goods. In a nutshell, population explosion also leads to conflicts and poverty. The tension created due to the fight for limited resources leads to conflicts and wars.
What measures have been taken to slow population growth?
Various measures have been brought forward by many governments and, by extension, continents in a bid to curb population explosion. One of the measures aimed at containing an increase in population is the provision of better education. The second measure is that some countries have introduced the aspect of tax benefits of concessions, which aims at lowering taxes for married couples with one or two children. Lastly, the last measure that is often used is the idea of creating or rather raising awareness more specifically on sex education and family planning importance.
Are these enough?
It goes unnoticed, however, that most of these measures have been practiced by various governments for a number of years now, but population explosion is being witnessed all over again. This, therefore, presumably translates that the measures in place are not enough, and more strict or complex measures should be engaged in a bid to curb this menace.
References
Jantz, C. A., & Manuel, J. J. (2013). Estimating impacts of population growth and land use policy on ecosystem services: A community-level case study in Virginia, USA. Ecosystem Services, 5, 110-123.