Question

Some people believe the most important goal is to sharply reduce the rate of population growth in developing countries, where 98% of the world’s population growth is expected to take place. Some people in developing countries agree that population growth in those countries can cause local environmental problems. But they contend that the most serious environmental problem the world faces is disruption of the global life-support system for the human species by high levels of resource consumption per person in developed countries, which use 88% of the world’s resources. What is your view on this issue? Explain using well reasoned arguments that support your position.

Answer 1

It is true that developed contries pollute a lot more than developing countries, for example, the carbon footprint in the United States sits currently at around 50 tonnes of carbon per person, per year. However, this fact does not invalidate the opinion that population growth should be reduced in developing countries.

Some developing countries have colossal populations. For example, Chila has 1.4 billion people, India has 1.3 billion people and Brazil has over 200 million people. If these countries do not reduce population growth, they will add a lot of people to an already strained enviroment. Besides, developing countries are getting richer, and as countries get richer, carbon footprints increase because people demand more goods and services.

The best strategy to tackle enviromental degradation is to reduce population growth in developing countries, while at the same time promoting the green economy, so that both advanced and emergent nations can benefit from sustainable economic growth.