Is the “planetary catastrophe” caused by population growth?
We must consider the facts as essential because they weigh on us like the sword of Damocles. Being called an “alarmist” is a risk worth taking in the fight to save the Earth, which is our only home in the cosmos.
The devastation of the earth and the slow march towards the end of life as we know it are two of the most distressing truths of human existence. Planetary calamity is a word frequently used to refer to major disasters and events that have the potential to wipe out the entire planet. Unfortunately, efforts to turn the clock back have not yielded much success.
A wide range of human activities have drastically altered the ecosystem and its balance, ranging from the acidity of water bodies, rising sea levels and climate change to the global water crisis, to air pollution and widespread species loss. The fact that there are now too many people on Earth for the planet’s finite amount of space and resources has been singled out by some thinkers as the primary cause of global calamity. Examining this train of thought will be in the best interest of the situation.
India’s population, which has grown from 350 million in 1947 to around 1.4 billion in 2022, is a prime example. This is a growth of 400% in about 75 years. In many other countries around the world, the scenario is the same. Since 1940, China’s population has increased by approximately 300%. Overall, the world population has increased from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 7.1 billion in 2020, an increase of 280%.
The world is trying to keep pace with limited resources due to this exponential population expansion, which comes with more mouths to feed, bodies to warm, and greater demands for water, clothing, and transportation. . In 2020, the majority of the world’s population (4.9 billion) had an annual per capita energy consumption of more than 1,000 kWh. The global energy mix is undeniably strained.
Increase in power consumption and population
Humans must compete for available resources, especially non-renewable natural resources, as a direct result of population growth. One of these demands is energy, as evidenced by the widespread discussion of the need to shift to renewable and sustainable choices. Air quality and ozone layer depletion continue to be seriously affected by air travel and the increasing use of fossil fuels, which increase CO2 emissions and energy consumption per person .
Moreover, an important indirect and general driver of deforestation is human population growth. As more people need food and space, there must be more land available for cultivation and human settlement. This leads to more deforestation in turn. Among farmers with four children, the amount of land farmed is equal to 1/4 of each farmer, and it decreases with each generation. Then come the problems of water and space constraints.
Due to the rarity
Ten percent of people in the world, according to World Vision, do not have access to safe drinking water. 785 million people worldwide lack access to clean water, according to information from its 2020 Global Water Crisis Highlights. Additionally, additional schools are needed to meet the growing number of children in the world, which requires much more space and building materials.
The fragile environment will continue to be strained to the point of collapse when all is lost unless strategic initiatives, such as those suggested by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, are taken. The sixth extinction, however, will only be the result of human activity, unlike the previous five extinctions in planetary and human development, which were caused by volcanic eruptions and asteroid impact.
The way to go
Restoration of traditional Indian knowledge is needed, as is the move towards a more sustainable way of life, including sustainable building, rainwater harvesting, composting, source sorting recycling, transition towards renewable energy sources and increased tree planting. Tom Crowther, a leading environmentalist, points out that by planting a trillion new trees around the world, we could dramatically slow climate change. To save the mother earth that we stole from our grandchildren, each of us should make a personal commitment to plant at least five trees throughout our lifetime.
With the development of a CNG facility in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Indian Oil is setting the standard in Asia. The Hingonia Cow Rehabilitation Center will house the largest CNG factory in Rajasthan, with a daily production of CNG from cow dung estimated at 6,000 kilograms. Equally crucial is the need to move from an arrogant to a humble attitude towards architecture. Buildings must use innovative methods for sustainable construction and space-saving designs if cities are to be smart and green.
Controlling population expansion is also necessary. While some countries, such as China, have attempted to limit the number of children a family can have through legislation, it is crucial to realize that population management is everyone’s duty. Instead of being discarded or wasted, each resource must be recyclable and regenerative. The environment does not belong to anyone; rather, it’s everyone’s duty to protect, so the only way forward is to engage everyone.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma