The impact of increasing human population on the environment

The increasing human population on earth can also affect the surrounding environment. Today, the global population has the largest proportion of young people (under 24 years) and the largest percentage of elderly people in history. As young people are more likely to migrate, this causes intensified urban environmental concerns

Life expectancy has increased about 20 years ago since 1960. While this is a victory for humanity, and certainly a good thing for individuals, from a planetary point of view this is just another body that continues to consume resources and generate about 40 percent of the earth's waste. longer than before.

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An aging population is another element of the multi-faceted implications of changing demographic populations, and poses their own challenges. For example, between 1970 to 2006, the proportion of Japan's population over the age of 65 grew from 7 percent to more than 20 percent of the population. This has major implications on the workforce, as well as government spending on pensions and health care.

Population income is also an important consideration. The unequal distribution of income results in pressure on the environment from both the lowest and highest income levels.

In order to simply survive, many of the world's poorest people partake in unsustainable levels of resource use, such as burning trash, tires or plastic for fuel.

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They may also be forced to use scarce natural resources, such as forests or animal populations, to feed their families. At the other end of the spectrum, those with the highest incomes consume disproportionately large amounts of resources through the cars they drive, the houses they live in, and the lifestyle choices they make.

At the country level, economic development and environmental degradation are also linked. Less developed countries tend to have lower levels of industrial activity, which results in lower levels of environmental damage.

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The most developed countries have found ways to improve technology and energy efficiency to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining high production levels.

Developing countries and experiencing intensive resource consumption (which may be driven by demand from developed countries) are often the sites of the most severe environmental damage.