Team 3

Risman yusuf/2201801522
Climate Change
Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From
shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of
catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in
scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult
and costly.. Climate change is causing a wide range of impacts today. Extreme weather such as
heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes and flooding rains are intensifying. Melting ice is contributing to
sea level rise while acidifying oceans threatens coral reefs. These climate impacts threaten both the
environment and our society. When we burn fossil fuels, we emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere. Consequently, over the last few decades, our planet has been building up heat
at a rate of four atomic bombs worth of heat every second.
Human-caused climate change is happening and is accelerating; dangerous impacts are becoming
evident around the world, and are projected to get worse in the decades to come, possibly much
worse (IPCC, 2013). Nearly all climate scientists are convinced of these basic facts, but more than
half of Americans do not currently understand that this scientific consensus has been reached
(Leiserowitz et al., 2013). Americans are not alone in this regard, although relatively less is known
about the views of people in other nations. While 57% of Britons aged 15 and older agreed with the
statement “most scientists agree that humans are causing climate change”, a separate 16-nation
World Public Opinion Poll (Public attitudes toward climate change: Findings from a multi-country
poll, 2009, found that only a minority of citizens in seven nations said “most scientists think the
problem is urgent and enough is known to take action”; these were the United States (38%), Russia
(23%), Indonesia (33%), Japan (43%), Brazil (44%), India (48%), and Mexico (48%). Across all
16 nations, 51% selected this response option, while 16% said “most (scientists) think the problem
is not urgent, and not enough is known yet to take action,” and 24% said “views are pretty evenly
divided,” another 10% indicated “don’t know.” This public misperception about the state of
scientific consensus regarding the reality and causes of climate change matters, a lot. Different
methods have been used to estimate the degree of scientific consensus about human-caused climate
change—including surveys of experts and reviews of the peer-reviewed literature. Both methods
converge on the following conclusion: 97% or more of climate scientists are convinced that
human-caused climate change is happening.
The potential benefits of setting the record straight are considerable. By working to overcome this
barrier to public understanding of climate change, scientists can help a broader cross section of
American society—and perhaps people in other nations as well—to better understand the realities
and risks of climate change, as well as the range of potential solutions. Furthermore, an effort to
communicate the scientific consensus can also help bridge the (manufactured) divide between
conservatives and liberals about the reality of human-caused climate change and help Americans
begin the real debate about climate change—how the nation should best respond. Ideally, a debate
about climate solutions should harness the best ideas of people across the political spectrum. Now
is the time for citizens, together with government and industry leaders, to engage in a serious
conversation about how to manage the risks of climate change.
In the end, scientists cannot insist that the public accept the realities of climate change, but they can
and should inform the public that based on the evidence, the vast majority of climate experts are
convinced that human-caused climate change is happening. Because public understanding of
climate change has been intentionally distorted by vested interests, the scientific community has an
obligation to set the record straight. Methods of effective scientific communication are well known
in some parts of the scientific community. The public health and medical communities, for
example, have mounted highly effective campaigns to reduce sudden infant death syndrome
(Markestad et al., 1995), human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
stroke, tobacco use among adults and teens, and to promote seat belt use. While each of these
successful campaigns had unique circumstances, they all conformed to a relatively simple formula:
simple clear messages, repeated often, by a variety of trusted voices. We urge scientific
organizations to patiently, yet assertively inform the public that, based on the evidence, more than
97% of climate experts are convinced that human-caused climate change is happening. Some
scientific organizations may argue that they have already done this through official statements.
We applaud them for their efforts to date, yet survey data clearly demonstrate that the message has
not yet reached or engaged most Americans. Occasional statements and press releases about the
reality of human-caused climate change are unfortunately not enough to cut through the fog—it
will take a concerted, ongoing effort to inform Americans about the scientific consensus regarding
the realities of climate change.
References :

Maibach, E., Myers, T., & Leiserowitz, A. (2014). Climate scientists need to set the record straight:
There is a scientific consensus that human‐caused climate change is happening.  Earth's
Future, 2(5), 295-298.
Parry, M. L., Carter, T. R., & Hulme, M. (1996). What is a dangerous climate change?.  Global
Environmental Change, 6(1), 1-6.
Watkiss, P., Downing, T., Handley, C., & Butterfield, R. (2005). The impacts and costs of climate
change. Brussels, European Commission DG Environment.
 Overpopulation
The world’s population has touched a mark of 7.3 billion in 2015 and could attain growth
level of 9-12 billion before the year 2050 which suggest that the impact of overpopulation can
increase the pace of ecological changes and impose a burden on biodiversity (Sala et al., 2000; UN,
2015). The 49 least developed countries have shown a growth rate of 2.3% annually, which was
nearly twice as compared to the developing world i.e. 1.2% per year in the year 2009 (UN, 2009).
Increases in human population size have caused an increased risk of synergies among impacts with
resultant accelerated environmental degradation (Harte, 2007). This increase in population size has
fastened the agricultural activities and technological development up to the extent, which is
catastrophic to environmental health.
At the beginning of human civilization, before agriculture came to the fore, the world is thought to
have had a total population of approximately one million (Baird 24). A the end of Ice Age, the
melting glaciers raised the oceans' level. Animals and plants that were dependent on the glaciers
moved to the cold mountains or to the areas of the north (Stefoff 26). On the other side, animals
and plants seeking warmer temperature moved to areas that were previously covered with ice and
snow. The planet experienced under population as people seeking adventures settled in the regions
that had not yet been explored. ''Some 50000 years ago humans were found only in the tropics and
warmer belts of the Old World. Northern Europe was reached 30000 years ago, then Siberia 20000
years ago and the Americas 11000 years ago'' (Shah 13), forming ''pockets of human population''
(Shah 13). During the prehistoric era, the world population was stable until the neolithic transition,
about 8,000 or 10,000 years ago, when the estimated world population equaled 5 million,
''increasing to 50 million by 1000 B.C.''.
The growth was influenced by human's shift from hunting and gathering to farming, which
increased his food supply. Nonetheless, ''life expectancy decreased from 19 years to 17 years''.
Compared to hunter-gatherers, whose diet involved various fruits and vegetables along with the
hunt, farmers mostly ate grains. The fact that their diet was poor reveal skeletal remains, where
body size, height, and bone thickness is shown as decreased (Davis 97). In this time period,
humans had an ability to settle at one location, enabling the development of villages, and to grow
food for themselves that could be stored for later. More people could be fed, and ''the world
population grew from 5-6 million to 250 million in the year A.D. 1. Although the total number was
great, the annual rate of increase was only 0.37 per 1,000, less than a tenth of the rate in many
third-world countries today'' (Davis 97).
In the meantime, in 400 B.C., Greek philosophers took part in discussions on population growth.
Plato tried to find solutions to growing population. He was the first to introduce the policy on
population when he mentioned the concept of ''population control'' in the Republic, where he
suggested that ''the 'guardian' class could be bred to rule, with the 'unfit' left to die''' (Baird 24).
Further Plato proposed the maximum size of the city-state to reach up to 5,040 citizens, as citizens
were required to utilize birth control. ''Methods were late marriages, prostitution, coitus interrupts,
homosexuality, abortion, and infanticide''. Plato and Aristotle, further agreed on the idea that
deformed babies should be destroyed. The government had no power over the decision, as ''the
parents, with perhaps the advice of the midwife or elders'' could decide what to do. In ancient and
primitive traditions, infanticide was not strange, whereas nowadays health care aims to prevent
unsafe childbirth. Similarly, Aristotle wrote that the pronatalist policy of Sparta encouraged
population growth for the strength of their army. '''He who had three children should be excused the
night watch, and that he who had four should pay no taxes'. Unmarried men suffered indignities''
(Davis 97).
Overpopulation has severe environmental implications. Although it has contributed in the nation’s
economy at global level, but has caused some adverse impacts on environment :
Deforestation
Increasing urbanization has triggered deforestation at a very fast pace, in order to fulfill
infrastructure demand of increasing population. Lands with high canopy covers are being subjected
to deforestation and people are continuing to migrate from rural areas to urban areas. According to
World Migration Report (2015), net migration from rural to urban area during 1981–1991 was 11
million which has risen during 2001-2011 to 19 million, in India. Population growth caused an
exponential increase in the alternation of the land utilization patterns to supplements economic
needs in the form of agricultural products, fuel wood, timber etc. However, to control conversion of
forest area to agricultural, industrial and residential area, Forest (Conservation) Act was enacted in
the year 1980 in India as a result of which conversion of forest area to other land use practices was
reduced with the annual diversion rate of 16,000 hectare (Economic Survey of India, 1998-99;
Nagdeve, 2002).
Welfare
Overpopulation has severely affected the quality of life in recent years. Quality of life (QOL) of
individualsis an approach used to determine their satisfaction in:
• Life,
• Financial status,
• Education,
• Social life,
• Family life,
• Health and
• Employment.
According to Quality-of-Life Index, 2005, Ireland ranks first in the quality of life, with
comparatively low population in comparison with countries such as China and India which ranks
60 and 73, respectively. Increasing population has imposed a burden on existing recourses to fulfill
the basic needs of such huge population, which resulted in elevated poverty percentage. According
to Planning Commission, India, below poverty line population living in the rural area showed a
sharp increase from 27.09% in 1999 to 41.79% in the year 2005. This increase is subsequently
accelerating lack of education in a mass of poor population. It tends to increase fertility rate in
illiterate and poor population, which is not much aware about degrading environmental quality due
to increasing population.
Climate Change
Recent reports on climate change indicated more frequency and catastrophe in the weather
extremes, leading to costly damage of infrastructure and loss of human life (Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, 2007). Increased use of fossil fuels since the mid-19th century in
overpopulated regions around the globe caused release of over 1100Gt CO2 into the atmosphere
(IPCC, 2001). Furthermore, overpopulation accelerated agricultural practices, leading to enhanced
emission of greenhouse gases. For example, methane is produced from rice agriculture practices
and livestock. For emission of greenhouse gases, agriculture sources in 2014 accounted for 24% of
2010 global emission (IPCC, 2014).
Decline in Biocapacity
Increasing global population has accelerated resource consumption, which subsequently increased
pressure on existing natural resources to unprecedented levels. Biocapacity is the area available as
productive land and available water to produce resources or absorb carbon dioxide waste, given
current management practices (Ecological Footprint Atlas, 2010).
Urban Sprawl
Urban sprawl is one of the several consequences of rapid population growth. Sprawl is a large scale
development process of real estate, producing low density, scattered, discontinuous car-dependent
construction, usually on the periphery of the declining older suburbs and shrinking city centers
(Hayden, 2004). Urban global population will grow to 4.9 billion by 2030, while, the global rural
population is predicted to decline by approximately 28 million during 2005 to 2030 (Bhatta, 2010).
In the United States, urban growth is expected to utilize about 19 million acres of farmland,
environmentally sensitive and other lands during 2000–2025 (Burchell et al., 2005). Urban sprawl
can be caused either by increased natality rate or by increased immigration.
Food Security
Overpopulation has worsened the local and global food security by synergistic impacts of climate
change. Emission from agriculture sources elevated from 4.7 billion tonnes to over 5.3 billion
tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq) during 2001-2011 (Food and Agriculture
Organization, 2014). Climate change resulting from the enhanced emission of greenhouse gases
has posed a severe threat on food security by affecting agricultural crop production and
biodiversity. Food security is linked with food availability, accessibility and utilization. Increasing
urbanization has limited the growth of agricultural sectors by encouraging industrial development
in rural regions. Current food production is becoming limited along with the hasty growth in
human population numbers. Technological development in the field of agriculture depends on
availability of natural resources like water, land and energy.
Increase in Energy Demand
Growing global population has caused rapid inflation in energy requirement and consumption.
According to Energy Information Administration (2001), use of energy, mostly for fossil fuels has
boosted by nearly 85 percent globally during past 30 years, while for Asia, it is more than 300%.
Sustainability for energy resources can be assured by the increased use of renewable resources,
utilizing energy conserving devices for househol purposes and development of advanced
technologies for generating energi from biological sources.
Effect on Marine Ecosystem
Overpopulation in coastlines has mainly resulted from migration activities and caused severe
environmental degradation. Mangroves, fisheries and beaches used commercially for tourism
purposes are among the coastal resources, which are severely damaged by consumption practices
(Naylor et al., 2002). Coral reefs are being rapidly degraded both due to direct impact of climate
change and by human induced marine pollution, overfishing etc. Out of the 19,210 km2 of coral
reefs in South Asia, 45% of have been destroyed, while 10%, 25% and 20% are critically
threatened, threatened and at low risk, respectively (Tun et al., 2004).
The impact of overpopulation on food security can be reduced by raising food production,
improving food distribution and by increasing economic access to food (Gregory et al., 2005).
Similarly, deforestation can be reduced by proper management of forest. For the management of
forest, an effective strategy should be developed to harmonize conservation priorities and
development goals i.e. by including native people in decision making procedures regarding
utilization and conservation of forest resources (Chakravarty et al., 2008). Similarly, for the
efficient utilization of renewable energy, regular employment of maintainers and operators for each
installed renewable energy plant should be ensured. In addition, Transparency in funding
mechanisms of governmental procedures must be ensured, so that urban sprawl can be reduced.
Population explosion awareness programs in developing nations need to be conducted, so that
problem can be solved at grass root level. Some countries like China, had taken strong steps to
combat problems of overpopulation but the scheme (One child policy) has failed due to several
reasons. The scheme has encouraged people for increasing incidents of feticides, tending to gender
inequality. A large mass of population is now entered in an old age and only a small proportion of
young generation is there to support economic growth of country. Thus any scheme must be
viewed with its possible pros and cons, before implementation.
References :

Baus, D. (2017). Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment. City university of New York
(CUNY)
Harte, J. (2007). Human population as a dynamic factor in environmental degradation. Population
and Environment, 28(4-5), 223-236.
Singh, R. P., Singh, A., & Srivastava, V. (Eds.). (2016). Environmental issues surrounding human
overpopulation. IGI Global.