Over-Population and Earth Processes essays

Over-Population and Earth Processes essays The Earth is facing two major issues with regards to its carrying capacity and over-population. Society continues to populate the Earth while the average life expectancy continues to rise. The Earth can only support a set amount of humans before its resources are used up. As well as the Earths resources becoming exhausted, there is also the issue of the high human population polluting the water to the point that some water reserves are not safe for consumption. In 1998 the world population reached 5.9 billion people according to the United States Census Bureau.1 These population figures signify that the world population has at least doubled since 1950, at which time the world population was only 2.6 billion people.1 The Earths population still continues to rise and has already reached the 6 billion people mark. If these population figures remain constant, the Earth will be well over its carrying capacity. With the continuing rise in world population comes the issue of the Earths resources becoming exhausted. An example of these exhausting of resources is oil. Society is already facing the issue of the Earths oil reserves being spent. The economic law of demand states The principle that, other things equal, an increase in a products price will reduce the quantity of it demanded; and conversely for a decrease in price.2 Because the price of oil has increased drastically over the last three years, the amount of oil that society uses has somewhat decreased because consumers are identifying the issue of oil consumption and are now buying more fuel-efficient vehicles.3 According to the economic law of demand, as more consumers switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles, the price of oil will come down again because the demand for oil will diminish and our oil reserves will remain stable. However, our oil reserves will only remain stable if more of society changes their lifestyles to accom m...