Essay Example on Global Issues and Society

What do You Believe is the Greatest Problem that Will be Created by the Population Revolution in the Next 20 Years?

I believe that the greatest problem that will be created by the population revolution in the next twenty years is limited resources and environmental degradation. Although there is the assurance that the wealthy nations give to the developing nations that they will also one day get rich, if the rate of population decline, it is no longer clear if this will ever occur for most of the developing countries today (Smith, 2013). Notably, looking at the nations that are termed rich with resources, I believe that they are also headed towards resources scarcity due to the rapid population growth and over-exploitation that will further lead to environmental degradation.

What are Some of the Causes of the Problem you Identified?

It is worth mentioning that the world's population has continuously been changing in the past years. Notably, with this constant growth in the population over the years, it is expected that the number of people will continue to grow in the coming years. According to statistics, the earth's populace is approaching seven billion (Smith, 2013). If this number continues to grow without any restrictions constantly, then the people will go on over-exploiting natural resources such as water, air, soil among other resources to meet their everyday requirements without a consideration of the later days. As a result, the natural resources such as water, soil, minerals, and even clean air will become scares and consequently lead to environmental degradation.

Given these Causes, what are Some Possible Solutions to the Identified Problem?

In essence, there are a few solutions to the problem of resources scarcity and environmental degradation. One is the use of available resources sparingly. For example, water is one of the natural resources that are under threat. Therefore, water should be used sparingly in industries, households, and other areas. Also, it can be trapped and stored to be used during a time of need. It is worth mentioning that using resources sparingly applies different resources such as oils and minerals.

Secondly, discouraging rural-urban migration and encouraging urban-rural migration will be an essential move to manage available resources and avoid environmental degradation. Decongesting the urban centers will allow people to use resources sparingly. It will also reduce the rate of air and water pollution in the cities. In the rural areas, the people will engage in activities such as farming that will increase production.

Thirdly, reducing gaseous emission in the environment will help control the rate at which the environment deteriorates. For instance, it is vital to decongest the urban areas by also reducing the number of vehicles and industries that emit carbon to the air (Barnett & Morse, 2013). It is because the carbon released into the environment destroys the ozone layer which in return causes harsh climatic conditions that lead to scarcity of natural resources and environmental degradation.

Lastly, afforestation and reforestation will be a significant step in preserving the environment and protect it from further degradation. In essence, I believe that planting more trees will be a significant step towards improving the already deteriorating environment. The reason is that trees will considerably help to purify the environment by taking in the carbon dioxide in the air and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Additionally, increasing and preserving the forests will be of great significance in the preservations of resources such as water and soil.

References

Barnett, H. J., & Morse, C. (2013). Scarcity and growth: The economics of natural resource availability (Vol. 3). Routledge.Smith, V. K. (2013). Scarcity and growth reconsidered (Vol. 8). Routledge.