env- population

• Thomas Malthus' (1798) interpretations

  Unchecked human populations increase exponentially, Food production increases arithmetically, "Positive" checks (Disease, famine, war) = Death, "Preventive" checks (Birth control, delayed marriage) = Lower birth rates
• Neo Malthusians


  Paul Ehrlich The Population Bomb (1968)
• Cornucopians


  All major economic, social and environmental problems can be fixed with technology + innovation
• Improvements in food production technology

  • Hybridization and genetic modification of crops
  • Mechanization of agriculture
  • Transition to monoculture production
  • Agrochemistry
  • Food storage technology
  • Food distribution technology
• Population growth happened because of nutrition, artificial fertilizers, plant breeding technologies, production technologies, health, sanitation, antibiotics, therapies
• Karl Marx (1818-83)


  -Human social behaviour can be understood in the context of the capitalist economy, which creates social classes that necessarily compete with one another for resources, -Das Kapital (1867) remains widely studied today, - Poverty and social problems lead to population growth, Solution = social change
• Neo-Malthusians


  We are approaching, or have already surpassed Earth's carrying capacity, Over-population issues = first priority
• Neo-Marxists


  Eliminate poverty via social change, equal wealth and resource distribution, will reduce population growth
• IPAT(S) or ImPAcT model


  I = P x A x T x S where I = impact, P = population, A = affluence, T = technology, S = sensitivity
• Two worlds


  • Small population, High consumption per person, Consume environmental capital from elsewhere
  • Large populations, Low consumption per person (but increasing)
• Canada = 571 Mt total emissions, Mexico = 492 Mt total emissions, Canada = 15.5 tonnes/person, Mexico = 3.9 tonnes/person, Sweden = 5.5t per person
• The average American (and Canadian) places at least 20 times the demand on Earth's resources
• Solutions for high income countries

  • Significantly reduce our footprints
• Solutions for low income countries

  • Reduce population growth, Limit growth of per person footprint
• Solutions for low income countries

  • Maternal health-care, Reduction in childhood morbidity, Improved status of women, employment opportunities, Male education, Contraceptive availability, Living in a stable environment
• Social empowerment of women

  Reduces unintended pregnancy
• Increasing female literacy


  Associated with reduced birth rates
• School enrollment


  Associated with low fertility
• Population growth rates slowing but population continuing to grow, Consumption continues to increase, Deteriorating environmental conditions