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# Problems Facing the World's Population **Overpopulation** occurs when a population is so dense that it causes overcrowding, the depletion of resources, and destruction of the environment. There are diverse views on whether the world's population is exploding or approaching a crisis point. Recen...

# Problems Facing the World's Population **Overpopulation** occurs when a population is so dense that it causes overcrowding, the depletion of resources, and destruction of the environment. There are diverse views on whether the world's population is exploding or approaching a crisis point. Recent population numbers reached 7.67 billion, with most people living in Asia (India has a birth every 2 seconds). The Earth's carrying capacity, the largest sustainable population, is estimated at approximately 10 billion people by the UN. **Malthusian Growth Model:** An 18th-century British philosopher, Thomas Malthus, proposed a model that predicts an exponential increase in global population outpacing food production leading to disease, famine, war, and calamity. This theory is still relevant in many developing countries with large rural populations, as well as countries heavily reliant on agricultural and resource exports. Malthus did not account for advancements in public health, family planning, and modern contraception, which have led to a considerable decline in fertility rates to below replacement levels (2.1 children per household). **Problems:** * **Competition for Resources:** Competition exists not just between humans, but also between humans and animals/plants over land. Resources like fertile land/minerals are in demand as cities expand and roads/pipelines are built for transport, leading to loss of natural habitats. Wetlands and forests are being destroyed to create farmland, and animals and plants face extinction due to resource demands. * **Non-renewable Resource Depletion:** Worldwide, essential resources such as air and water may be renewable, but current populations are contaminating and degrading these supplies. Freshwater availability is declining. Land and minerals are also being overused for extraction processes, leaving behind significant pollution or waste. * **Waste and Pollutions:** Waste management and disposal are becoming a major concern as populations grow, resulting in environmental pollution. Chemicals like pesticides have a contaminating effect on the environment. Waste is not sustainably managed, which results in pollution for the oceans. **Strategies/Solutions:** * **Sustainable Development:** Maintaining a community that can continue growing depends on sustainable development, and using readily available resources to preserve the environment. * **Resource Conservation**: Adopting conservation practices helps protect the natural environment and preserve essential resources. Reusable bags, containers, and shared mobility are good examples of sustainable practices.