Is overpopulation the world's biggest

problem?

Introduction

No, its relative overpopulated; depending on distribution and

measure (Allen and Thomas, 2004, p.140). However, environmental
degradation can be considered as the worlds biggest problem.

I. Overpopulation is not the worlds biggest problem

Gradual population growth
The increasingly important issue of very low fertility
(Clark, 2006, p.439)
We are at the end of fast population growth within
this century (Rosling, 2013)
Demographic transition is increasingly seen as a
global process- one which eventually will be
completed everywhere (Clark,2006,p.439).

Depending on distribution and measure (Allen and Thomas,

2004, p.140)
In certain parts of the world, land is overused as a
result of the large numbers of people hungry for wood
fuel, pasture or food crops. But again, this appears to
be due to population distribution and an unequal
access to resources rather than the sheer weight of
humanity (Allen and Thomas, 2004, p.133).

II. Environmental degradation

If the present growth trends in world population,
industrialization, pollution, food production, and
resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to
growth on this planet will be reached sometime within
the next one hundred years (Allen and Thomas, 2004,
p.142).

Population poverty livelihood style where

environmental degradation is concerned, we should not
be concerned with numbers or even densities of people,
but rather with how they gain their livelihood. It is
livelihoods which establish the relationship of human
populations with their environment (Allen and Thomas,
2004, p.149).

Concerns (Allen and Thomas, 2004, p.162).

Wider industrialisation
 --Less industrialised countries do industrialise there will
be a large increase in pollution, particularly the
atmospheric pollution which it has been claimed will
cause catastrophic climatic change (Allen and Thomas,
2004, p.144).

Overexploitation of environmental resources

--Coupled with increasing levels of energy use, a world
population of nine billion may pose a serious challenge to
global sustainability over the longer run (Clark, 2006,
p.439).

Global issue
The rise to prominence of environmental issues is
intimately associated with globalization duet o the
strain that this places on the earths carrying capacity
in terms of consumption levels, resource depletion,
and rising greenhouse gas emissions (Baylis, Smith and
Owens, 2014, p.354).

Bibliography
Allen, T. and Thomas, A. (2004). Poverty and development into
the 21st century. Oxford [u.a.]: The Open University in
associated with Oxford University Press.

Clark, D. (2006). The Elgar companion to development studies.

Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp.436-441.

Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P. (2014). The Globalization of

world politics. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.341-
356.

Rosling, H. (2013). This World, Don't Panic - The Truth About

Population. [online] BBC iPlayer. Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03h8r1j/this-world-dont-
panic-the-truth-about-population [Accessed 26 Feb. 2017].