Alice Baker
“Models of population growth suggest there are environmental limits to growth, but the
last half century may be used as evidence to argue the contrary.”
Evaluate this statement with reference to a range of perspectives on population growth. (20
marks)
Since 1950, the world’s population has increased from 2.5 billion to almost 8 billion in 2022,
this is a 216% increase and means that the world’s population has more than tripled since
1950. As a result of this extreme increase, more and more stress is being placed on the
environment, impacting not only human life but also natural wildlife as well.
Thomas Maltheus theorised that if the world’s population exceeded the growth of food
supply and no environmental checks were in place, then there would be a mass extinction
event such as famine, disease, or a natural hazardous event, which would lead to a
significant decline in the world’s population. This theory can be supported by the current
state of our climate and the increasing threat of climate change. In the last two years
Australia experienced the most catastrophic wildfires on record, resulting in 5.9 million
hectares of land to be burnt. This burning also released 434 million tonnes of carbon dioxide
and ash that caused many crops and wildlife to die. Climate change has a negative impact
on food supply due to rising sea levels and an increase in the intensity and frequency of
natural hazards such as wildfires and tropical storms. Soil that becomes saturated with sea
water increases in salinity and cannot sustain crops as it becomes infertile. This is
problematic as due to rising sea levels and increasing frequencies of natural hazards as a
result of climate change more and more soils are at risk of being impacted by drought or
salinisation meaning that the opportunity to grow crops and maintain a food supply that
supports the world population declines.
In Sudan and other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, famine and malnutrition is already
occurring as a result of drought and poor access to food supplies. In 1998 over 70,000
people died as a result of famine in Sudan, today more than 100,000 people in South Sudan
are facing starvation according to the UN. The main causes of starvation in Sudan are
conflict induced by climate change and drought which means that crops cannot be grown
and an increase in food inaccessibility occurs. The Sahel is experiencing extreme drought
which has forced groups of people into other territories in the effort to find natural
resources for farming such as grass for animals or water. As a result of this conflict over land
and resources has developed, making access to food for local people extremely difficult.
An alternate theory by Esther Boserup suggests that ‘agricultural intensification’ will occur
as a result of population growth driving human invention to find new ways to increase
agricultural production and sustain population growth. Evidence to support this theory can
already be seen in the development of genetically modified crops and through movements
such as the green revolution. GM Crops such as R18 a rice that produces high yields have
been successful in sustaining growing populations such as those in Asia where 60% of the
world’s population live. Additionally, movements such as the green revolution have been
successful in mobilising communities and promoting agricultural methods for communities
within Asia and Africa to become self-sustainable,
“Models of population growth suggest there are environmental limits to growth, but the
last half century may be used as evidence to argue the contrary.”
Evaluate this statement with reference to a range of perspectives on population growth. (20
marks)
Since 1950, the world’s population has increased from 2.5 billion to almost 8 billion in 2022,
this is a 216% increase and means that the world’s population has more than tripled since
1950. As a result of this extreme increase, more and more stress is being placed on the
environment, impacting not only human life but also natural wildlife as well.
Thomas Maltheus theorised that if the world’s population exceeded the growth of food
supply and no environmental checks were in place, then there would be a mass extinction
event such as famine, disease, or a natural hazardous event, which would lead to a
significant decline in the world’s population. This theory can be supported by the current
state of our climate and the increasing threat of climate change. In the last two years
Australia experienced the most catastrophic wildfires on record, resulting in 5.9 million
hectares of land to be burnt. This burning also released 434 million tonnes of carbon dioxide
and ash that caused many crops and wildlife to die. Climate change has a negative impact
on food supply due to rising sea levels and an increase in the intensity and frequency of
natural hazards such as wildfires and tropical storms. Soil that becomes saturated with sea
water increases in salinity and cannot sustain crops as it becomes infertile. This is
problematic as due to rising sea levels and increasing frequencies of natural hazards as a
result of climate change more and more soils are at risk of being impacted by drought or
salinisation meaning that the opportunity to grow crops and maintain a food supply that
supports the world population declines.
In Sudan and other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, famine and malnutrition is already
occurring as a result of drought and poor access to food supplies. In 1998 over 70,000
people died as a result of famine in Sudan, today more than 100,000 people in South Sudan
are facing starvation according to the UN. The main causes of starvation in Sudan are
conflict induced by climate change and drought which means that crops cannot be grown
and an increase in food inaccessibility occurs. The Sahel is experiencing extreme drought
which has forced groups of people into other territories in the effort to find natural
resources for farming such as grass for animals or water. As a result of this conflict over land
and resources has developed, making access to food for local people extremely difficult.
An alternate theory by Esther Boserup suggests that ‘agricultural intensification’ will occur
as a result of population growth driving human invention to find new ways to increase
agricultural production and sustain population growth. Evidence to support this theory can
already be seen in the development of genetically modified crops and through movements
such as the green revolution. GM Crops such as R18 a rice that produces high yields have
been successful in sustaining growing populations such as those in Asia where 60% of the
world’s population live. Additionally, movements such as the green revolution have been
successful in mobilising communities and promoting agricultural methods for communities
within Asia and Africa to become self-sustainable,
