Human Population Growth

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Human Population Growth

• The number one threat to the environment is a
  growing human population.

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How fast are we growing?

• The population reached 6.4 billion in 2004. 
• The United Nation projects that world population
  for the year 2050 could range from 7.9 billion to
  10.9 billion, depending on the actions we take
  today. (http//www.cwac.net/population/index.html)
  
• Approximately 260,000 people are born every day,
  thats 180 new babies every minute!

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Why is this a problem for the planet?

• Each person requires energy, living space, and
  uses limited resources. This means less of these
  resources for other species.

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Why is the human population growing at such an
alarming rate?

• Technology, sanitation, and medical advancements
  have decreased the death rate.
• Examples
• - antibiotics to kill bacterial
• infections like tuberculosis.
• vaccines to prevent diseases like small pox and
  polio.
• Life support, defibrillators, cures for disease.

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Why is the human population growing at such an
alarming rate?

• Modern farming methods allow us to provide a
  surplus of food.
• Better farming tools and fertilizers allow us to
  grow more crops.

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There is a net growth in the human population
each year.

• The death rate is decreasing.
• This means more people are being added to the
  population but less are leaving each year.

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If we do not control our growth what is at risk?

• Clean water
• Energy sources to run our technology
• Clean air
• Cropland for farming
• Open spaces (wilderness)
• Fisheries (wild fish populations)
• Biodiversityspecies may go extinct

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