Global Population Growth
Global population growth has become a concern rather than a positive aspect of global issues related to humanity. Projection by various initiative organizations points to the possibility of a further increase in the population before levelling off at a particular level. The United Nations, for instance, projects that the global population growth will increase from the current 7 billion to 10 billion by 2050 before it levels off and stabilizes at that figure (Hugo 2012, p. 2). This implies that there will be 3 billion additional people in the world in the coming years. Such a massive increase in global population, in comparison with the available world resources, has negative implications, which deservedly makes it ‘the elephant in the room’ (Hamilton 2012, p. 1).
Increase in Poverty Indexes
One of the causative factors as well as a negative outcome of such increase in population is the increase in poverty indexes globally. Hamilton, quoting the Malthusian theory, argues that unchecked population has the capacity to surpass agricultural capacity to increase the production of food, resulting in famine and strife among the populations (Hamilton 2012, p. 3). As a causative factor, several arguments have been made associating poverty with poor choices and decision making in matters of global population control. Therefore, by addressing the issue of poverty, the paper addresses a fundamental issue that when addressed can help solve the menace of uncontrolled global population growth. Drawing from relevant research, this paper affirms the validity of poverty as a priority factor that needs to be addressed in the quest to achieve controlled global population. Recommendations on this matter are also made based on research relating to issues in population growth.
Linkage Between Poverty and Uncontrolled Population Growth Rates
According to Hugo, almost one billion individuals currently live in poor conditions, lacking in food security, with the majority in low-income countries. This situation gives a hint of the linkage between poverty and uncontrolled population growth rates. Contending on this matter, Rosling (2012) argues that most low-income regions (especially Sub-Saharan Africa) are associated with high childbirth rates for several reasons. In these areas, children are born to work; therefore, the more one has within their family the richer their labour base. A more significant reason that has been implicated in these regions is the lack of access to better healthcare, including maternal health and access to informed family planning. As a result, families give birth to more children in fear of losing some or all of the children to death due to diseases, malnutrition and famine. Also, with the lack of access to family planning services, women cannot make informed decisions on controlling the number of children they have.
Recommendations for Poverty Reduction
The results of these, which is uncontrolled population growth rates, especially in low-income countries, are indicators that Hugo (2012) refers to as ‘a clarion call to redouble commitments to reduce poverty, extend education, and intensify maternity, child, reproductive health and family planning programs’ (Hugo 2012, p. 2).
This is one of the recommendations that will ensure poverty reduction and achieving the balance between, global population and resources. On the basis of the fact that poverty is due to inequitable distribution of resources, Barnosky, Ehrlich and Hadly (2016) recommend the increased access to health care and family planning, focus on the education and rights of women and economic opportunities (Barnosky, Ehrlich and Hadly 2016, p. 4). These measures are echoed by Rosling (2012) who believes that by striving to get the poorest out of poverty, their children will survive, hence no struggle to raise more. They will also get access to family planning programs, thus enhancing the progress towards a controlled global population stabilized at 10 billion people.
References
Barnosky, A., Ehrlich, P. and Hadly, E., 2016. Avoiding Collapse: Grand Challenges for Science and Society to Solve by 2050. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 4(94), pp. 1-6.
Hamilton, C., 2012. Population and environment: What we do in in Woolies matters than what we do in bed. [Online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/population-and-environment-what-we-do-in-woolies-matters-than-what-we-do-in-bed-6527 [Accessed Apr. 26, 2018].
Hugo, G., 2012. Challenge 3: Balancing population growth and resources. The Conversation. [Online] Available at: https://theconversation.com/challenge-3-balancing-population-growth-and-resources-7489 [Accessed Apr. 26, 2018].
Rosling, H., 2012. Religion and babies. [Online] Available at: http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_religions_and_babies/trancript?language=en [Accessed Apr. 26, 2018].
