Final answer:
The strain on the environment is significantly impacted by both the total number of people and high-population-density areas, with cumulative global demands and concentrated regional degradation contributing to environmental issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate regarding whether the total number of people on the planet or the high-population-density areas create more strain on the environment involves complex factors. The Earth has recently reached a population milestone of 7 billion humans, with projections of continued growth.
High-population-density areas can lead to a concentrated form of environmental degradation, including pollution, resource depletion, and habitat loss in specific regions. However, the total number of people globally affects the planet through cumulative demands on resources and contributions to climate change. Thus, the total population number drives global environmental change while high densities exacerbate local environmental and social issues.
Scientific evidence has demonstrated that the current patterns of consumption and production are unsustainable, leading to ecological crises and social conflicts. Environmental sociology has tracked rising concerns over climate change and extreme weather patterns linked to human activity. Poor and disadvantaged communities often bear a disproportionate burden from environmental damage, a dynamic known as environmental racism. The carrying capacity of Earth is a growing concern, with debates centered on whether current growth rates can be moderated to avert a population crisis.
In conclusion, both the total number of people and high-population-density areas significantly strain the environment. It is the combination of growing population, the inequality in resource consumption, and the concentration of people in urban areas that intensifies the challenges we face in striving for sustainable living.