Overpopulation

By Catia Magalhães,
Bárbara Romana and
Bruno Leandro

According to projections, in 2050, the world population will grow into 11 billion. Overpopulation does not depend only on the amount of individuals, but the supply capacity of its habitat. The resources to be considered include clean water, clean air, food, shelter, warmth, etc. In this essay, we will focus on the effects of human overpopulation, a number of problems associated with, and mitigation measures that might be applied to reduce its impacts.

One of the most important problems associated with overpopulation is shortage of fresh water. The main reserves are located in iced regions and underground rivers. However, we can get it from sea, by desalinization. This process is very expensive, especially the transport of water throughout the whole continent and to high places, which means a serious problem for poor nations.

Another important problem refers to land and food. According to The World Resources Institute, 12% of all Earth's surface nowadays is used for agriculture. Although human population inhabits only 0,05% of Earth’s area, the impact of humanity is felt on a quarter of the land. With new technologies, mankind will be able to deal with these issues, for instance: using aquaculture, hydroponic culture, constructing artificial islands, and vertical farming. Nevertheless, production sustainability must be considered when applying these processes.

In conclusion, when the subject ‘overpopulation’ is mentioned, humankind has to consider its ability to provide resources for its own maintenance on Earth. There are many problems to think about, but the most important point to bear in mind is that mankind must learn fast how to live without depleting the entire planet in the process. If not, there will be no planet or population to occupy it.