Population Rise
The world population reached 8 billion in November, according to the United Nations. This was not a surprise. People are living longer, thanks in part to better healthcare. But more people could mean fewer resources in poorer countries.
Parts of Africa have seen big growth. “Housing, roads, the hospitals, schools. Everything is overstretched,” Gyang Dalyop says. He works in urban planning in Nigeria.
Countries with rapid growth also include India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Life there will get harder, and climate change will make it worse. Less water and decreased crop production will mean more hungry people.
Experts say the problem lies mainly with richer countries, like the United States and China. They consume the most energy and produce the most greenhouse-gas emissions. “Population is not the problem,” says Charles Kenny, of the Center for Global Development, in Washington, D.C. “The way we consume is the problem.”
Stop and Think! Why is population growth newsworthy? Why might it be a danger? How does climate change contribute to the problem?
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