1. Population, Global Inequality, and the Environmental Crisis
Chapter 15
Population, Global Inequality,
and the Environmental Crisis
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2. Chapter outline Fertility Mortality Migration Theories on growth
Population Growth
Fertility
Mortality
Migration
Theories on growth
Problems
World Hunger
Controlling Fertility
Immigration
Population and Environment
Environmental Degradation
Air Pollution and Greenhouse Effect
Water, soil, and forests
Solid, toxic, and nuclear waste
Perspectives
Functionalist
Conflict
Interactionist
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Overpopulation
The world’s population:
Is 6.72 billion
Was 2.5 billion in 1950
Has doubled in the last 50 years
Will double again in the next 50 years, if trends continue
Concern: Can the earth’s resources support this growth?
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Population Growth
Growth rates vary among nations
High-income nations (i.e. US) have lower growth rates
Low-income nations (i.e. Africa) have higher growth rates
Population
All people living in a specified region
Demography
Study of size, composition, and distribution of populations
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5. Factors affecting growth
Fertility
Actual number of children born to an individual or population
Associated with social and biological factors
Mortality
Number of deaths in a specific population
Infant mortality (death of infants under age 1)
Life expectancy (average lifetime of a person)
Migration
Movement of people from one geographic area to another to live
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6. Impact of Population Growth
Population growth affects the biological and social characteristics of a population
Age, sex, race
Marital status
Education, occupation, income
Size of household
Example: In the U.S., age distribution of population affects the need for schools, employment opportunities, health care, and age-appropriate housing.
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7. Perspectives on Growth
Malthusian Perspective (1798)
Global population will exceed the available food supply
Population expands geometrically (1,2,4,8,16...) while food supply increases arithmetically (1,2,3,4,5...)
Disaster can be averted by:
Positive checks (e.g., famine, disease, war)
Preventive checks (e.g, sexual abstinence, delayed marriage)
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8. Perspectives on Growth, cont.
Neo-Malthusian Perspective
The earth is a ticking time bomb because population exacerbates environmental problems
Need to reduce our world population growth
Demographic Transition Theory
Societies move from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a result of technological development
Technology can help overcome problems predicted by previous 2 theories.
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World Hunger
Proposals to avert global food shortages:
Green revolution
Dramatic increases in agricultural production through growing of high yield “miracle” crops
This has been helpful in some areas but not in all areas
Biotechnological revolution
“Improving” plants or animals or using microorganisms in innovative ways
This has also helped but is not without problems.
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11. Controlling Fertility
Researchers believe limiting fertility is best way to control overpopulation.
Government focuses on family planning measures.
Zero Population Growth: totally stable population from year to year.
U.S. approaching zero population growth
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Immigration
Proportion of immigrants in the U.S. population is the highest since 1940
In 2006, 12% of total population were from other nations
Immigration leads to higher taxes but also brings substantial economic benefits
US population policies focus on immigration – particularly illegal immigrants
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14. Population and the Environment
Environmental Degradation
Disruptions to the environment that have negative consequences for ecosystems
Causes
As humans pursue economic development and growth, they cause environmental degradation
Removing natural resources and increasing pollution
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Air Pollution
Acid Rain
Rainfall with large concentrations of sulfuric acid and nitric acids
Greenhouse Effect
Environmental condition caused by excessive carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere leading to global warming
Causes
Fossil fuel pollution, mostly from vehicles but also from industry
Hole the size of North America in ozone layer, steps being take to reduce this problem.
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16. Water, Soil, and Forest Problems
Water scarcity is increasing on a global basis
Water pollution further diminishes the supply
A major water polluter in the U.S. is the paper-manufacturing industry
15 million acres of forest are lost to desertification
Usable land turned into desert due to:
Overgrazing
Harmful agricultural practices
Deforestation (greatest in middle- and low-income nations)
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17. Solid, Toxic, and Nuclear Waste
High-income nations are running out of space for solid waste produced by “disposable societies”
236 million tons of solid waste created each year
Typical North American creates 1,500 lbs solid waste per year
Toxic waste from hazardous by-products of industry causes death and disease if not disposed of properly
Love Canal (1970’s New York)
Nuclear waste most dangerous of all toxic wastes and remain deadly for prolonged period.
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18. Sociological Perspectives
Technological Innovation serves important functions
Latent dysfunctions of technology cause problems, but new technologies can solve them
Solutions to overpopulation and environmental degradation lie in social institutions.
Especially education and government
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19. Sociological Perspectives, cont.
Conflict:
Classic Marxist
If poverty were alleviated, there would be enough food for all
Poverty exists because capitalists skim workers’ wages for profit
Contemporary conflict
Corporations and government make economic decisions that result in environmental problems
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Conflict
Eco-feminism:
Patriarchy is a root cause of environmental problems as nature is viewed as something to be possessed and dominated
Environmental Justice Framework:
Environmental racism: disproportionate amount of hazardous facilities placed in areas populated by minorities.
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21. Sociological Perspectives
Interactionist:
Through socialization, children learn core values that are often detrimental to the environment
However, there is some indication that concern for the environment is becoming a core value in the U.S.
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