Lecture 12 - Human and Environmental Impacts

Until recently, the world population has been growing faster than exponentially. Although the growth rate has slowed somewhat, there are about 80 million more people each year and about 3 billion more will be added by 2050 (a 50% increase). Population will probably increase more beyond that. Such growth is unprecedented and we cannot predict its long-term effects. The environmental impact of this population increase is bound to be astronomic. Large populations engender two problems: over-consumption in the rich countries which leads to environmental misery, and under-consumption in the poor countries which leads to human misery. People living in abject poverty ($1 per day) don't limit their fertility. Factory jobs in poor countries pay double that, approximately $2 per day. For population to stabilize, income must rise. If population is to increase by 50%, income needs to double -- we are looking at a tripling of the world economy. The environment is currently overstressed. Can it survive a tripling of the economy? Reading assignment: Weeks, John R. Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues, pp. xix-xx, 1 and 4-6 Sengupta, Somini. "In Bombay, Public Indignity Is Poverty's Partner." The New York Times, 10 February 2002 Ying, Hong. Daughter of the River LaFraniere, Sharon. "Another School Barrier for African Girls: No Toilet." The New York Times, 23 December 2005 Deutsch, Claudia. "A Not-So-Simple Plan to Keep African Girls in School." The New York Times, 12 November 2007 Bumiller, Elizabeth. May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons: A Journey among the Women of India, chapter 5 Resources: [[http://oyc.yale.edu/sites/default/files/mcdblecture12notes.pdf|Notes - Lecture 12 [PDF]]]