Population explosion and the possible extinction of humans

6th mass extinction

It noted that famous islands such as the Galapagos, Hawaii and the Seychelles are becoming ecologically and aesthetically barren as a consequence of human activities. Crutzen, P. International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Earth is All Out of New Farmland. But experts say that access to contraception and education for women are actually the best ways to curb global population. Today, starvation is caused by economic and political forces rather than a lack of the means to produce food. The expected population changes in the millions from now to are shown in the graphic. All the more reason we should have started a half century ago, when the problem first came to public attention. Few butterflies require the wheat, corn or rice on which humans largely depend.

Worst of all, we have driven the rate of biological extinctionthe permanent loss of species, up several hundred times beyond its historical levels, and are threatened with the loss of a majority of all species by the end of the 21st century.

Sciulli, C.

Animal extinction

Our notion of sustainability and ecological footprint — indeed, our notion of world worth living in — presumes that humans will allow for, and themselves enjoy, enough room and resources for all species to live. If it lives in water, it requires not only an appropriate temperature range, but also appropriate salinity, acidity and other chemical characteristics. United Nations official figures from last year estimate the human population is 6. The situation is most acute in western, central and eastern Africa. This dates back to prehistoric times, when agricultural methods were first developed, and continues to the present day, with fertilizers, agrochemicals, large-scale mechanization, genetic manipulation, and other technologies. Fenner, 95, is the author or co-author of 22 books and scientific papers and book chapters. Share via Email A peacock butterfly rests on a thistle. Often, wealthier countries send their surplus food resources to the aid of starving communities; however, proponents of this theory argue that this seemingly beneficial notion only results in further harm to those communities in the long run. He points to the U. According to CDIAC, the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, increases in carbon emissions per head is closely followed by the growth in human population a nearly 4-fold increase in the past years. Large quotation punctuation icon Without a thriving biosphere, there is no human future. But universities, with multiple areas of expertise and a commitment to interdisciplinary research, may be best-suited to leading to a solution, he said. Fooce, and T.

Global Change Newsletter —18, ; Zalasiewicz, J. Many young people do not have the skills to match the needs of the Egyptian market, and the economy is small, weak and insufficiently industrialized Some species have prospered as a result of human activity, but the vast majority have not, and many species are now threatened with extinction.

Governments tend to be short-sighted; non-government organizations tend to have limited resources; and corporations are not incentivized to protect humanity.

mass extinction

North America 82 million There is concern over the sharp population increase in many countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africathat has occurred over the last several decades, and that it is creating problems with land management, natural resources and access to water supplies.

When the population of a species grows beyond the capacity of its environment to sustain it, it reduces that capacity below the original level, ensuring an eventual population crash.

species extinction due to overpopulation

If it lives in water, it requires not only an appropriate temperature range, but also appropriate salinity, acidity and other chemical characteristics. And even the things we think are saved and protected forever may not be. McKee, J. We want to build highways across the Serengeti to get more rare earth minerals for our cellphones.

Population explosion and the possible extinction of humans

The graph shows the — period. Yet even as the Earth hits this new milestone, one billion people do not have enough food; meanwhile the rapid expansion of agriculture is one of the leading causes of global environmental degradation, including greenhouse gas emissions, destruction of forests, marine pollution, mass extinction, water scarcity, and soil degradation. As with climate disruption, this is one more case of human overpopulation threatening civilisation. But we have failed completely; we haven't managed to save a single one. December 7, The biologist Edward O. The fact that some affluent countries demonstrate negative population growth fails to discredit the theory as whole, since the world has become a globalized system with food moving across national borders from areas of abundance to areas of scarcity.
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Humans will be extinct in years says eminent scientist