Page 231 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

Testing your Comprehension

1. Why did China institute a population control policy? 6. What is total fertility rate (TFR)? Briefly describe how
2. Explain human population growth in terms of carrying family planning helped reduce the TFR in Bangladesh.
capacity. How does this differ from organisms that exist 7. How does the demographic transition model explain the
in natural ecosystems? Explain how population growth increase in population growth rates in recent centuries?
for human populations is a problem. How does it explain the recent decrease in population
3. Contrast the views of environmental scientists with those growth rates in many countries?
of Cornucopian economists and policymakers regarding 8. Why have fertility rates fallen in many countries?
whether population growth is a problem. Name several 9. Why are the empowerment of women and the pursuit
reasons why population growth is commonly viewed as a of gender equality viewed as important to controlling
problem. population growth? Describe the aim of family-planning
4. Explain the IPAT model. How can technology either in- programs.
crease or decrease environmental impact? Provide at least 10. Why do poorer societies have higher population growth
two examples. rates than wealthier societies? How does poverty affect the
5. Define population ecology and demography. Why is the environment? How does affluence affect the environment?
study of the latter crucial to sustainable development?

Seeking Solutions

1. China’s reduction in birth rates is leading to significant permanent state of low birth and death rates? Why or why
change in the nation’s age structure. Review Figure 8.12, not? What steps might we as a global society take to help
which shows that the population is growing older, leading ensure that they do? Now think about developed nations
to the top-heavy population pyramid for the year 2050. such as the United States and Canada. Do you think these
What effects might this ultimately have on Chinese soci- nations will continue to lower and stabilize their birth and
ety? What steps could be taken in response? death rates in a state of prosperity? What factors might
2. The World Bank estimates that half the world’s people affect whether they do so?
survive on less than $2 per day. How do you think this 5. THINK IT THROUGH India’s prime minister puts you
situation affects the political stability of the world? Ex- in charge of that nation’s population policy. India has a
plain your answer. population growth rate of 1.5% per year, a TFR of 2.5,
3. Apply the IPAT model to the example of China provided a 47% rate of contraceptive use, and a population that is
in the chapter. How do population, affluence, technology, 69% rural. What policy steps would you recommend, and
and ecological sensitivity affect China’s environment? why?
Now consider your own country or your own state. How 6. THINK IT THROUGH Now suppose that you have been
do population, affluence, technology, and ecological sensi- tapped to design population policy for Germany. Germa-
tivity affect your environment? How can we minimize the ny is losing population at an annual rate of 0.2%, has a
environmental impacts of growth in the human population? TFR of 1.4, a 66% rate of contraceptive use, and a popu-
4. Do you think that all of today’s developing nations will lation that is 73% urban. What policy steps would you
complete the demographic transition and come to enjoy a recommend, and why?

Calculating Ecological Footprints

A nation’s population size and the affluence of its citizens estimate for the world’s average ecological footprint was 2.7
each influence its resource consumption and environmental hectares (ha) per person. The sampling of data in the table will
impact. As of 2012, the world’s population passed 7 billion. allow you to explore patterns in how population, affluence,
Average per capita income was $10,030 per year, and the latest and environmental impact are related.

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