Population growth, overconsumption and technology.
I = PAT
Impact on the environment has often been defined as the effect of
population x affluence x technology
Population: Growth of the human population is a major factor affecting the environment. Simply put, overpopulation means that there are more people than there are resources to meet their needs. Almost all the environmental problems we face today can be traced back to the increase in population in the world. The human population is at 6 billion; with an annual global growth rate of 1.8%, three more people are added to the earth every second. This represents an increase of almost 60% since 1970 and over 150% since the second world war. (Miller, 1992)
Affluence: Simultaneously, the world has experienced an annual economic growth rate of 2.7% over the past three years. Affluence is a problem because with increasing affluence comes an increase in the per capita resource utilization. Less than 20% of the world's population controls 80% of the world's wealth and resources. The high standard of living that accompanies the increased production and consumption of goods is the major cause of pollution and environmental degradation. (E.O. Wilson, 1994)
We discuss some of the principal causes of these problems and how they affect the processes and mechanisms which maintain biological diversity. This overview will be superficial at best. The problems of overpopulation, overconsumption, development and industrialization are intertwined and the causes are not singular and straightforward.
