Emily GS Summary 29 Nov 2023 PDF

Population Growth Technological advancements in areas such as medicine, environmental hygiene and food production have led to longer lives. Besides, the birth rate is high in some developing countries. All these contribute to an increasing world population, which has doubled in the last 60 years. In...

Population Growth Technological advancements in areas such as medicine, environmental hygiene and food production have led to longer lives. Besides, the birth rate is high in some developing countries. All these contribute to an increasing world population, which has doubled in the last 60 years. In 2017, the world population exceeded 7.6 billion. World Population Distribution Most of the world population live in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America, and more than half live in Asia. The world population distribution is uneven. The population density is high in Asia and Europe. Rapid Population Growth Africa is facing the problem of rapid population growth. This leads to problems in health care, food and education. To control the population growth, African countries and regions promote family planning to encourage people to have fewer children. Population Ageing In some developed countries and regions, such as Japan and Hong Kong, the birth rate is low and the percentage of the elderly population is increasing. This results in population ageing, which leads to a decreasing working population and huge public spending on health care and social welfare. The Hong Kong Government has taken various measures to deal with the problem, such as encouraging families to have more children and raising the retirement age. We should care for the elderly and build a caring society. Poverty Around the World A lot of people in the world live in poverty and suffer from hunger and malnutrition. They get ill easily and might even die because of poor hygiene and lack of health care. Causes of Poverty Some countries and regions face problems such as lack of farmland, barren land, war and overpopulation. Some of them also lack the resources to deal with natural disasters. People there suffer from poverty since it is difficult for them to make a living. Getting Out of Poverty Many international organisations help people fight poverty. They provide support and training to help improve people's lives. They also provide food and other essentials to people affected by natural disasters. As global citizens, we have the responsibility to help people in need. We can volunteer and make donations. 1 We should pay attention to news about poverty in our community and around the world, and spread the message about helping people living in poverty. We should treasure resources and not take what we have for granted. Resources of the Earth There are many natural resources on the Earth, such as forests, water, plants, animals, minerals and fuels. They provide us with materials and energy that we need in our daily lives. Environmental Problems Exploiting natural resources destroys the environment. Destruction of forests reduces biodiversity and leads to more frequent flooding. Increasing human activities, such as livestock raising, farming, deforestation and coal mining, can make land poor and barren. Some land might even turn into desert. Sewage and waste from factories, farms and households cause water pollution. It damages the ecosystem and harms our health. Climate Change Many human activities produce a lot of greenhouse gases. This causes enhanced greenhouse effect, leading to climate change. Climate change causes problems such as rising global temperature, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and extreme weather. It has serious impacts on the environment and all living things. Saving the Earth To deal with climate change, many countries are developing energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy, such as solar power, wind power and hydropower. Green low-carbon cities are built to reduce carbon emission, thus protecting the environment. Countries have also made agreements to reduce climate change through cooperation. The Earth is our home. We all have the responsibility to protect it and live a green low-carbon life. 2 3