Population Growth

Population growth has led to increased extraction of resources, which harms the environment and human health. Burning fossil fuels for electricity and transportation contributes to pollution. Freshwater use for drinking, agriculture, and industry is also impacted. Urbanization destroys habitats and supports invasive species. Population increase can lead to the spread of diseases. These impacts will be further explored in future classes. Good morning, one and all, today, in this audio podcast, you will be learning about population growth. Population growth is the increase in the number of humans on earth. For most of human history, a population size was relatively stable. But, with innovation and industrialization, energy, food, water, and medical care became more available and reliable. Consequently, global human population rapidly increased and continues to do so. We will need technological and social innovation to help us support the world's population as we adapt to mitigate climate and environmental changes. Now tell me, how does the human population growth impacts the birth system? Okay, the human population growth impacts the earth's system in a variety of ways, including the increase in the extraction of resources from the environment, such as the fossil fuels, minerals, trees, water, and wildlife, especially in the oceans. The process of removing resources, in turn, often releases pollutants and waste that reduce the air and water quality, in turn harming the health of humans as well as other species. Increase in the burning of these kinds of fossil fuels to generate electricity and to further transportation and industrial processes. Population growth also impacts the consumption of freshwater use, which can be used for drinking, agriculture, recreation, and industrial processes. So, freshwater is extracted from lakes, rivers, the ground, and man-made reservoirs. Increasing ecological impacts on environment, forests, and other habitats are disturbed or destroyed to construct urban areas, including construction of homes, businesses, and ports to accommodate growing populations. Additionally, as population increase, more land is used for agricultural activities and also to support livestock. This, in turn, can decrease species population, topographical ranges, biodiversity, and also alter interaction among organisms. It also helps in increasing the fishing and hunting, reduces species population of the exploited species. Even, urbanization also creates disturbed environments, where invasive species often thrive and out-compete native species. For example, many invasive plant species thrive along strips of land next to roads and highways. At last, the increase in population can lead to the transmission of various kinds of diseases. Humans living in densely populated areas can rapidly spread diseases within and among populations. Additionally, because transportation has become much easier and more frequent, diseases can spread quickly to new regions. In the next classes, we will be learn about some more impact of population on the environment as well as environmental values. Thank you, one and all. Thank you.