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Population Growth versus Availability

Introduction

The population growth reveals ever increasing numbers, leading to increased demands for resources like food, water, fossil energy etc. In order to ensure the sustained availability and quality of life for future generations, immediate and necessary steps like conservation of resources, developing alternative measures, and inclination towards renewable sources is of prime importance (Pimentel, et al, 2006, pp. 195-198).

Discussion

Effect of population growth on resources

The growth in population numbers leads to the increase in the ratio of people to the global resources, and the earth's capacity to sustain (carrying capacity) is pushed to the limits. The insufficiency of resources for survival and the exceeding of carrying capacity cause an imbalance. The current statistics of world population is 6.5 billion people, which would increase, to 11 billion by year 2050 (Pimentel, et al, 2006, pp. 195-198). The population growth is directly proportional to the consumption of resources. In general, the developed countries have higher resource consumption, therefore, the population growth in these countries have a greater impact on global resources (Pimentel, et al, 2006, pp. 195-198). For instance, according to CWAC (2010), the problems in availability of resources emerge in direct proportion to population growth with excessive resource consumption of resources. 20% of the people in the developed countries constitute 86% of the total consumption expenditures, while 20% people in developing countries consume only 1.3% (http://classic-literature.yoexpert.com).

As the population grows, so does the demand for resources for consumption. These resources could be water, food, oil, minerals etc., but the earth's resources are limited, and this explains population affects the resource availability and consumption (http://classic-literature.yoexpert.com).

Resources getting used up

Crops

Cereal grains constitute about 80% of world's human food consumption necessary for survival (Pimentel, et al, 2004, pp. 22-24). The availability per capita of cropland to supply human food requirements has reduced by 20% in the last ten years (Pimentel, et al, 2004, pp. 22-24). The need for food increases, and demand for crops like wheat, rice, corn increases, but when the requirement is more than supply, the resources are used up and other factors like erosion and irrigation issues contribute in its depletion. USA constitutes only 17% of the total land, which is insufficient to provide for US population expansion in future (USDA, 2003).

Water

The consumption of water increases with the increase in population. Water is a basic necessity in daily ...