University of Dhaka

Assignment on 

Population Growth & Urbanism

Course Title: Social Problem & Issues

Course Code: 104
Submission Date: 05 July 2021

Department of Sociology

Submitted To Submitted By
Mohammad Mahbub Quaisar Jahidul Haque Shuvo
Associate Professor Roll No: Zia-040-104
Department of Sociology Reg No: 2019-014-526
Faculty of Social Science 14th batch
University of Dhaka Session: 2019-20
1. What is the Demographic Transition?

Demographic Transition

Demographic transition is a theory that describes the historical transition from high birth rates
and high infant death rates in societies with minimal technology, education and economic
development, to low birth rates and low death rates in societies with advanced technology,
education and economic development.

“Demographic Transition refers to a population cycle that begins with a fall in the death rate,
continues with a phase of rapid population growth and concludes with a decline in the birth
rate.”- E.G. Dolan

The theory is based on an interpretation of demographic history developed in 1929 by the

American demographer Warren Thompson (1887–1973). Adolphe Landry of France made
similar observations on demographic patterns and population growth potential around 1934.
In the 1940s and 1950s Frank W. Notestein developed a more formal theory of demographic
transition, but it has since been elaborated and expanded upon by many others.

Generally The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) has just four stages, but one additional
stage has been proposed. Both more-fertile and less-fertile futures have been claimed as a
Stage Five.

Stage – 1 Stage – 2 Stage – 3 Stage – 4 Stage – 5

Birth Rate High High Falling Law Raising Again
Death Rate High Falls Rapidly Falls More Slowly Law Law
Total Population Stable Increase Rapidly Increase Slowly Stable Stable
These five stages in the demographic transition are:
1. Pre-industrial Society
2. Developing Society
3. Mature Industrial Society
4. Post Industrial Society
5. Future Changes in Birth Rates

Stage-1: Pre-industrial Society

In this stage both the birth rate and the mortality rate are very high due to early marriage,
shortage of knowledge of family planning, deep-rooted social beliefs, religious attitudes,
poverty, low income, bad sanitary conditions and absence of medical facilities. As a result,
the population is in a balanced position at this stage.

Stage-2: Developing Society

In this stage the death rates drop quickly due to improvements in food supply, medicine,
social development and well sanitation, which increase life expectancies and reduce disease.
For this reason, the population continues to grow at a tremendous rate in the second stage.

Stage-3: Mature Industrial Society

At stage three Total population is rising rapidly. The gap between birth and death rates is
narrow. Natural increase is high. Death rates remain low and steady but birth rates fall
quickly. Birth rates fall due to enhanced economic conditions, women's education, access to
contraception, increases in wages, urbanization etc.

Stage-4: Post Industrial Society

Traditionally considered to be the final stage, this is one of demographic stabilization, in
which the total population is high and growing slowly. It is balanced by a low birth rate and a
low death rate. Contraception is widely available and there is a social desire to have smaller
families.

Stage-5: Future Changes in Birth Rates

Total population is still high but starting to decline due to the birth rate falling below the
death rate. The population will start to fall as it is no longer replacing itself. The population is
ageing and will gradually be dominated by older people.

2. “Urbanism is a way of life”- Examine the

statement.
 Urbanism As A Way of Life

The Concept of Urban And Urbanism: Generally ‘urban’ means a built up area such
as a town or city. There is no internationally agreed definition of what urban means.
Besides “Urbanism” is a term that generally refers to the expansion of urban culture and the
evolution of urban society. It explains the characteristic way of life of city dwellers.
"Urbanism is a way of life, characterized by extensive conflicts of norms and values, by rapid
social change, by increased social differentiation, greater social mobility, by higher levels of
education and income, by emphasis on material possessions and individualism. , by
impersonality of relationships and decline in Intimate communication and by increase in
formal social controls."- Louis Wirth

Louis Wirth has mentioned four characteristics of urban systems or urbanism. These are:

1. Heterogeneity of Population
2. Anonymity and Impersonality
3. Standardization of Behavior
4. Specialization of Function

Heterogeneity of Population: Urban population is heterogeneous. It consists of various

shades of people-different castes, ethnic groups, religion etc. They are not all alike. Urban
community is noteworthy for its diversity.

Anonymity and Impersonality: Urbanites do not know each other intimately. The sheer
pressure of number marks for anonymity. Anonymity is a loss of identity and sense of
belongingness.

Standardisation of Behaviour: ln urban social life, relations are not intimate and kinship
based. Most roti in social contacts in the city are impersonal and segmented. Formal
politeness takes the place of genuine friendliness and that's why urban life necessitates an
individual to standardize his behaviour which ultimately helps him and others to understand
each other and make interactions simpler. For example, A shopkeeper finds the same
questions being asked by a succession of customers.

Specialization of Function: The heterogeneity and the large size of population of a city
favour the development of specialization. Since the city has many facts of life and an
individual can participate only in some of them, he becomes choosy and takes interest only in
a few fields. Specialization in function and encourages a diversity of life patterns. Otherwise,
we see many characteristics of Urbanism. These characteristics are as below:

● Rapid social and cultural change.

 ● The diversity of social life (Normal and social role conflict).
● Mobility.
● Materialism.
● Increase in formal social control.

Urbanism is a concept that embodies all the characters associated with urbanization and
urban life. It refers to a complex of social relations. In modern industrialized society,
urbanism has become as predominant as life itself. According to some experts, urbanism
indicates a wide acquaintance with objects and people. This kind of acquaintance inspires the
city dwellers in the spirit of tolerance.

Characteristics of Urbanism: There are many characteristics of urbanism. From

these most importants are given below:

(1) The Norm And Social Role Conflicts: The diversity of social life springs from the
dimensions, density and heterogeneity of the population, extreme specialization of the
various occupations and class structures existing in the larger communities. These latter
factors generally result in divergent group norms and values ​and conflicting social roles.

(2) Rapid Social And Cultural Change: Rapid social and cultural change also characterize
urban life. So there is decline in the significance of traditional and sacred things. The reduced
size of the modern family is the result of rapid social and cultural change.

(3) Impersonalness And Lack of Intimate Communication: There is superficiality and

impersonalness among the urbanities. Urban society is highly heterogeneous and specialized.
So, the result is a lack of intimate relationships. The urban people live close together but
without emotional ties. Urban social relationships take place between strangers.

(4) Materialism: Urban people give primary importance to material possessions. They live
and are known for their status symbols, bank balances, assets, salaries, buildings with modern
furnishings etc.

(5) Individualism: In urban society people become more individualistic, self-centered,

selfish and so on. They give primary emphasis to their own interests and personal happiness,
they develop the attitude towards competition, conflict in relation to economic goods and
social position.

(6) Mobility: Here in urban society there is greater mobility. People move from one job to
another, from one locality to another. The residential mobility tends to weaken ties to the
local community.
(7) Increase In Formal Social Controls: Social controls in urban society are more formal.
Responsibility for controlling behavior in cities is largely shifting to the police, the courts and
other government agencies to enforce the norms of certain groups. Cities vary in the extent or
the degree to which they are characterized by urban qualities. Some cities have less norm and
role conflicts, social change, mobility, individualism and impersonality than others.

Principles of Urbanism: There are many principles of urbanism. From these 10 most
importants are given below:

(1) Quality of Life: These design principles produce a life that is well worth living by
providing places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.
(2) Connectivity: The interconnected street network disperses traffic and facilitates walking.
A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards and alleys. A high quality pedestrian and public
network makes walking enjoyable.
(3) Walkability: Most needs are within a 10-minute walk of home and work. Street design is
friendly to pedestrians, because buildings are close to the street and have porches, windows,
and doors. Streets have lots of trees and on-street parking, with parking lots and garages
placed behind buildings and houses, often connected to alleys. Streets are narrow, which
slows traffic dramatically.
(4) Mixed Housing: Zoning allows the close proximity of a wide range of housing types,
sizes, and prices.
(5) Quality Architecture & Urban Design: Emphasis on beauty, human comfort and the
creation of a sense of place; a special situation for civil uses and sites within the community.
Architecture within the human range and beautiful surroundings nourish the human soul.
(6) Traditional Neighborhood Structure: Neighborhoods have definite centers and edges,
with public spaces near the center. Each neighborhood contains a range of uses and densities
within a 10-minute walk.
(7) Increased Density: Buildings, residences, shops, and services are close together to make
walking more convenient, services and resources more efficient, and living areas more
enjoyable..
(8) Green Transportation: A network of high-quality public transit connects cities, towns,
and neighborhoods, while pedestrian-friendly design encourages more use of bicycles,
rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation.
(9) Sustainability: The community uses respect for natural systems and eco-friendly
technologies like energy efficiency to minimize effects on the environment. The community
connects strongly with surrounding farmland, encouraging land preservation and local food
consumption.
(10) Mixed-Use And Diversity: Neighborhoods, blocks, and buildings offer a mix of shops,
offices, apartments, and homes. The neighborhoods welcome people of all ages, income
levels, cultures, and races.

Benefits of Urbanism: There are many benefits of urbanism. From these most
importants are given below:

➽ Benefits To Residents:

● Better places to live, work and play.

● High quality of public life.
● Higher and more stable property values.
● Reduce traffic congestion and lack of driving.
● A healthier lifestyle with more walking, less stress.
● Close to the retail street and the main services.
● Pedestrian communities offer more opportunities to get to know others in the
neighborhood and the city, leading to meaningful relationships with a larger number
of people, and a friendly town.
● More freedom and independence for children, the elderly and the poor in the ability to
access jobs, entertainment and services without the need for a car or someone to lead.
● Large savings for residents and school boards in reducing transportation costs from
children who can walk or bicycling to neighborhood schools.
● Significant savings by driving less and owning fewer cars.
● More open space to enjoy; more efficient use of tax funds with less spending on the
deployment of facilities and roads.

➽ Benefits To Businesses:

● Earn more revenue because you spend less on ads and big tags.
● Increased sales due to increased traffic and people spending less on cars and gas.
● A better lifestyle by living above a store in live work units – provides a stressful and
costly transition.
● Economies of scale in marketing because of their closeness and cooperation with
other local companies.
● Small spaces encourage the incubation of small local businesses.
● More community participation than being part of the community and knowing the
population.
● Lower rentals due to smaller spaces and small car parking. Lifestyle is healthier
because of more walking and proximity to healthy restaurants.

➽Benefits To Developers:
 ● Cost savings in parking facilities in multi-use properties due to shared spaces
throughout the day and night, resulting in reduced duplication in the provision of
parking.
● More potential income from high-density mixed-use projects because of more
rentable square footage, more sales per square foot, higher real estate values ​and sales
prices.
● Approvals are faster in societies that have adopted smart growth principles resulting
in cost / timesaving.
● Selling faster because of increased consumer acceptance of a broader product group
that resulted in a larger market share.
● Less impact on roads / traffic, which may result in lower impact fees; lower utility
costs due to the compact nature of the new urban design.

➽Benefits To Municipalities

● Less spending on the individual in the infrastructure and facilities than typical in the
suburbs because of the nature of high-density small enterprises.
● Increased tax base due to increased buildings in a narrow area; reduced traffic
congestion due to design ability.
● Less resistance than society.
● A better public image of society and sense of place.
● Less incentive to extend when the central urban area is desirable.
● Easy to install jumper in place where it is not, and improve it in place.
● Increasing the civic participation of the population leads to improved governance.

Conclusion: Urbanism is the culture or way of life of city dwellers. It is really a way of
life. It refers to a complex of social relations.

3. Identify major urban problems and Propose the

probable solutions.

Major Urban Problems And The Probable Solutions

Introduction: Urban is such an area which is a human settlement with a high population
density and infrastructure of built environment. It is created through urbanization and
categorized by urban morphology as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbanism, the
term contrasts with rural areas such as villages and hamlets; in urban sociology or urban
anthropology it contrasts with the natural environment. The creation of early predecessors of
urban areas during the urban revolution led to the creation of human civilization with modern
urban planning, which along with other human activities such as exploitation of natural
resources led to a human impact on the environment.

The world's urban population in 1950 of just 746 million has increased to 3.9 billion in the
decades since. In 2009, the number of people living in urban areas (3.42 billion) surpassed
the number living in rural areas (3.41 billion), and since then the world has become more
urban than rural. This was the first time that the majority of the world's population lived in a
city. In 2014 there were 7.2 billion people living on the planet, of which the global urban
population comprised 3.9 billion.

As the urban society is increasing day by day, its structure is also getting more and more
complex. As a result, various kinds of problems are arising surrounding it. Such as:
Overpopulation, Housing Problem, Unemployment, Creation of Slums, Sanitation Problems,
Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Food Adulteration, Health Problems, Disposal of Trash, Water
Shortage, Transportation Problems, Urban Crime, Lack of Jobs etc.
Now we will discuss some major problems of urban society and probable ways to solve them:

The Major Urban Problems:

1. Overpopulation: Overpopulation is a situation where a lot of people live together in a

narrow space, but they are unable to properly suppress the pressures around them in this
situation. As a result of urbanization, large numbers of people are constantly moving to urban
areas every day, so overpopulation has become a major problem in urban society.
When the number of people in a city goes beyond its capacity, cities have to face additional
population pressure. As a result, the people of the city faced problems like electricity, water,
transportation, jobs, security etc.

2. Housing Problems: When villagers move to cities and crowds gather, housing problems
develop. Because suddenly there is no place in cities to hold such a large population.
Moreover, it becomes more difficult to settle those who do not come to work in the city and
those who settle permanently as immigrants. Some of these people can't build their own
house, they can't even afford to pay for it from a rented house.

On the other hand, the problem is exacerbated by the lack of materials needed to build new
homes. The problem is increasingly complex due to limited space, construction difficulties
and scarcity of financial resources.

3. Unemployment: Unemployment is another problem of urbanization. Surprisingly, a

large percentage of those who are unemployed belong to well-educated families. Many come
to the city thinking that job opportunities may be more in urban areas and pay more than in
rural areas, but finding and retaining jobs is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of
people continues to grow. As a result, the number of unemployed is increasing day by day.
Employment agencies keep the rest of the people away from their jobs except their own
employees. As a result, rising unemployment in urban areas is creating a worrying situation.

In recent times, the unemployment rate has multiplied with the outbreak of Covid-19. More
and more people are becoming unemployed every day as employers drop out at an alarming
rate. Employment agencies are only holding the minimum number of employees. Moreover,
the jobs that had to be created to save the needs of the urban population are being forced to
close in the face of a huge economic crisis.

4. Creation of Slums: Urbanization and industrialization move many people to urban

areas, but it does not prepare them for the situation they may face once they get there. As a
result, they get into a lot of trouble and cause a lot of problems. Because the cost of living is
higher in urban areas. Housing problems become more serious. This is because not all people
who move to urban areas can afford adequate housing. As a result, they chose the slum as a
safe haven and arrived there. As a result slum development took place.

Those who cannot afford to rent a house at a higher price or buy an apartment or build a new
house in an urban area build their houses on less-developed or degraded land, resulting in the
development of slums.

Slum houses are often low-rise and often lack basic amenities such as clean water and proper
sanitation. These are made for low-income urban people. Some of these settlements are even
illegal and are placed next to natural disaster risk areas such as dumpsites, heavily polluted
areas or wetlands and mud streams.
5. Sanitation Problems: Sanitation problems are rampant in urban areas due to
overpopulation. Due to the large population of urban areas, it is difficult to set up and manage
the drainage system properly. On the other hand, rapid population growth sometimes
indicates the construction of new sanitation and drainage systems.

Sometimes, existing sewage systems do not have adequate manpower and the infrastructural
capacity to manage their waste treatment. As a result, they are thrown into water sources.
These later contaminate the water and harm the health of the city dwellers. As a result, city
dwellers are infected with harmful waterborne diseases. However, due to ingestion of water
contaminated by industrial waste and heavy metals, they are sometimes infected with
complex diseases.

6. Water Shortage: Water is a very important element in our lives for survival. Massive
population growth in urban areas makes water supply very scarce. This is because there is not
enough water to meet the needs of a large population, resulting in inadequate water supply.

However, the biggest problem is that water pollution increases due to inadequate sewerage
systems and lack of preventive measures to eliminate water pollution. As a result, water
problems increase.

7. Disposal of Trash: Waste disposal has become very difficult due to various problems of
urbanization. Cities produce large amounts of waste every day that cannot be disposed of
properly. As a result, people living in the area are exposed to multiple health risks.

In fact, all the areas that are initially set aside for waste disposal are filled at once. As a result,
there is not enough space to dispose of the rest of the garbage later. This causes
environmental pollution. As a result, a variety of complex diseases spread easily around and
people living in the vicinity of trash fillings are at serious health risk.

8. Transportation Problem: Lots of people in urban areas often commute to their

workplaces and homes; This often leads to traffic jams and traffic jams. With the increase in
population in urban areas, the number of car owners is increasing every year, especially the
number of public transport is increasing at an incredible rate. As a result, the traffic problem
is getting worse. This not only hinders traffic, but also increases the chances of traffic
accidents and urban air pollution.

9. Urban Crime: The higher the population in urban areas, the higher the unemployment
rate. Because the job fields in urban areas are not enough for everyone. So the unemployment
rate is increasing. As a result, the unemployed people are driven towards violence, theft and
organized crime.
Lack of employment also increases poverty, as a result of which it becomes more difficult for
people to get the things they need to survive. People are then turning to poverty-related
crimes such as theft, repression and organized crime as a means of livelihood.

Poverty and lack of job opportunities in urban areas include such criminal activities as
kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, rape and even murder. These actions make it very difficult
for cities to survive because there is no guarantee of their safety, especially for victims who
cannot protect themselves in such situations.

10. Health Problems: The huge population living within the city puts the cities at great
risk. Poor sanitation, water problems, living in a dirty and unhygienic environment of slums
etc. lead the life of city dwellers towards various diseases. On the other hand, people in these
areas often do not have proper access to healthcare services, which makes the healing process
more difficult and often leads to death.

In the slums, people are often diagnosed with diseases like infertility, food poisoning,
allergies, asthma, cardiovascular complication, respiratory failure, cancer, and death. This can
all be accredited to the overall pollution that is experienced in these urban areas.

With the onset of the Kovid-19 epidemic, the problem of global urbanization may be felt
even more. Now that social distance has become absolutely essential, urbanization has now
become the biggest health risk of all time. In developing countries, the problem is even more
complex. Slum areas are the most affected in this case. This is because the epidemic is
spreading at a much higher rate in these regions.

Probable Solutions of Urban Problems: Just as there are many complex

problems in urbanization, there are also different ways to solve them. The following are some
suggestions on how to deal with urbanization:

(1) Urban Renewal:  A program intended to upgrade Decaying  City neighborhoods. The
first urban renewal programs in the United States began during the Great Depression to
improve housing and provide employment for construction workers. To this day urban
renewal usually means housing renewal, all the renewal of business and other economic
activities is also desperately needed in many urban neighborhoods. More recently, the Federal
government has been moving away from such specific programs to deal with housing
problems and relying instead on general ”block grants” and ” revenue sharing”  to be spent as
the community sees fit. According to research by Kenneth k. Wong and Paul E. Peterson,
block grants generally result in a smaller-not a larger-proportion of Federal money actually
going to  help the poor. Moreover ,finding for such programs has never been sufficient to
meet the need for low- income housing. 
 
Building sustainable and Environmentally- friendly cities: plan and provide environmentally
sound cities and smart growth techniques, considering that people should not reside in unsafe
and polluted areas. Sustainable environments such as investment in green infrastructure,
sustainable industries, recycling and environmental campaigns, renewable energy ,green
public transportation and water recycling and reclamation. As a result of sustainable cities all
urban populations reside in safe habitats. 
 
(2) Creation of More Jobs:  To lessen the negative effects of rapid urban growth while at
the same time conserving natural ecosystems private investments should be encouraged so as
to utilize natural resources and create more job opportunities. Tourism promotion and the
sustainable exploitation of natural resources can create more jobs for urban populations.
Subsidies and grants may as well be provided to foreign and private investment in
environmentally  friendly development projects that encourage job creation. 
 
(3) Provision of Essential Service: Essential social services like education, health
sanitation and clean water, technology, electricity and food is to provide and implement
employment opportunities and wealth creation activities so that people can earn a living to
pay for the maintenance of the service. 
 
(4) Population Control:  The UK government to promote “ responsible parenthood “ and
say subsidies should be limited to the first two children unless the family is living in poverty.
Key stakeholders in urban areas must provide campaigns and counselling for effective
medical Health clinics and family planning to help reduce the high rates of population growth
and control disease. Taken measure steps the population growth is control and these are
below: 
● Empower women.
● Promote family planning.
● Make education entertaining.
● Government incentives. 
 
(5) Controlling Urban Growth:  The destruction of the natural environment ,endless
urban sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution and a feeling that our overall quality of life is
declining due to the rapid urban growth. Taken such Steps  urban growth is control such as: 
● Improving the efficiency of metropolitan areas as economic units. 
● Investing in secondary cities and towns with growth potential and integrating urban
and rural markets.
● Decentralizing more administrative and financial responsibilities to local governments
in urban areas. 
 
Conclusion: According to functionalists, rapid  urban growth has disrupted our basic
social institutions. The rates of crime, suicide, and mental illness have grown  as the
disorganization  brought about by rapid urban areas has increased. Conflict theorists see the
problems of urban areas as a result of competition between interest groups. Each group
exercises power for its own benefit and not for the general welfare. Feminist point out that
rapid urban growth has had contradictory effects on women loosening some of the traditional
restraints that held  them back but also reducing community support and protection.
Interactionist are concerned with the  psychological impact of city life and they support
efforts to build genuine communities in urban neighborhoods.

4.Why is population growth considered a threat to

global security?

Population Growth: A Threat To Global Security

Population is one of the most important factors in maintaining a country or world. However,
it can also be one of the greatest threats to the world if not controlled by sustainable policy. 

Overpopulation  is a problem that is not going to disappear anytime soon ,and it will continue
to have serious implications worldwide. The world’s Rapid population growth predicted to
rise from the current 6.5 billion people to about 9.1 billion by the middle of the century could
have “serious security consequences” not only for a country or a region but for the entire
world ,a new report said. As far back as 1972, former US President Richard Nixon said “one
of the most serious challenges to human destiny in the last third of this century will be the
growth of the population.” The high rate of  growth of many of them is a serious constraint
on their development efforts. A rising population leads to increased use of resources and
raises serious questions about the ability of the planet to sustain humanity. 
Breeding Insecurity: Global security Implications of Rapid population  Growth, points out
that population growth leads to large youth bulges ,rapid urbanization  and resource scarcity,
all of which can lead to insecurity and instability.

Paul Ehrlich, “The Population Bomb" detailed the dangers of world's population growth and
predicted catastrophe from a population explosion. Too many hands and too many mouths
would soon be vying for ever-scarcer resources, and there was no way out. Otherwise, there
have been over 200 years of ideological argument over population issues. One of the first
people to recognize the dangers of unrestricted population growth was an English Minister
Thomas Malthus "Essay on the principle of population”, he argued that the human population
naturally increased much more rapidly than its food supply.
Food supplies increase arithmetically (1,2,3,4,5,etc) but uncontrolled population increases
geometrically (1,2,4,8,16,etc.). Eventually, Malthus said a population that keeps doubling in
this way is damned to outrun its food supply. The Malthusian argument was that target
population size did not increase prosperity, and growth should be limited. 
  
The growing pressure of population on resource base has created many social-economic
,cultural, political ,ecological and environmental  problems. Without a drastic curtailment in
fertility, all prospects of development would lay further behind. The expected fourfold
increase in the human population from 1950 to 2050,” is the underlying driver of all the
catastrophic risks we now face, combined with our over consumption of scarce resources.”
The demographic story of the world in the past 50 years has been rapid  population growth,
which has placed a heavy burden on economics. This remains the greatest threat to global
stability. Overpopulation affects most of the earth as of now. As the fastest growing
population tend to rank high on global indices of hunger , poverty, environmental degradation
, fragility, regional ethnic conflict ,water scarcity, political instability and conflict,
deforestation and many other problems, these are below:

Fatal Effects of Overpopulation:

● Depletion of Natural Resources.
● Rise in Unemployment.
● Conflicts and war.
● High cost of Living.
● Pandemics and Epidemics.
● Malnutrition, Starvation and Famine.
● Lower life Expectancy.
● Extinction.
● Faster climate change.
● Increased intensive Farming.
● Global heating.
● Pollution.
● Nuclear weapons and dangerous new technologies.
 ● Disease emergence and spread.

Depletion of Natural Resources: The effects of  over population are quite severe. The
first of these is the depletion of resources. Most of the environmental damage seen in the last
50 years is because of the growing number of people on the planet. They include cutting
down forest, hunting wildlife, in a reckless manner causing pollution and creating a host of
other problems and acts of violence and aggression outside of a war zone have increased
tremendously while competing for resources and it is a threat worldwide.

Degradation of Environment: With the overuse of coal ,oil, and natural gas, it has started
producing some serious effects on our environment. Otherwise, the exponential rise in the
number of vehicles and industries has badly affected the quality of air. As a result the rise in
the amount of co2 emissions 
leads to global warming. Melting of the polar ice cap, changing climate patterns, rise in sea
levels are a few of the consequences that we might have to face due to environmental
pollution and it is a threat to Globe.

War And The Population Explosion: In 1995, Robert McNamara, the president of the
World Bank, observed, “The greatest single obstacle to the economic and social advancement
of the majority of peoples in the undeveloped world is rampant population growth . The
threat of unmanageable population pressures is very much like the threat of nuclear war.”
Otherwise, John M. Swomley gives  evidence of the  planetary population problem, the
Dynamics of the world's population wars, the responsibility of the “Superpowers', the new
ethical dimension of war provided by the Roman Catholic Church worldwide influence. In
the 21st century, there have been hundreds and thousands of wars, natural calamities, and
man-made hazards.

Water Shortage: Roughly 1% of the world's water is fresh and accessible. Overpopulation 
is a major issue that creates immense pressure on the world’s fresh water supplies. “We never
know the worth of water till the well is dry ”-Thomas Fuller. As per the study, human 
demand for freshwater would stand at approximately 70% of freshwater available on the
planet by 2025.“By 2030,nearly half of the world’s people will be living in areas of acute
water shortage.” The planet is in the midst of what the United Nations is calling a “Global
water crisis”. Conflicts over water are becoming a source of tension between countries which
could result in wars and it has a bad effect on the world.
Rise in unemployment:  Today , Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population is under the age
of 20. 85% of these young people live in the developing world, where jobs, resources and
educational opportunities are scarce, he added. Large groups of unemployed young people
combined with overcrowded cities and lack of access to farmland and water create a
population that is angry and frustrated with the status quo. The rise in unemployment gives
rise to crime which is a great threat to the globe.
Poverty: Poverty is the biggest Hallmark we see when talking about overpopulation. The
rising Global population- specially in the midst of poverty and hunger in the world’s poorer 
nations “creates national security problems including civil unrest and terrorism,” says the
Washington-based population institute. At the present, rate of population growth, the
economics of most Poor nations grow around 2 percent just to keep their standard of living
from falling.“ The fight against poverty, hunger and disease waged by the LDC is being
seriously hampered by rapid population growth and its  “ dragging” efforts upon all of their
social and economic development objectives,” Chowdhury  told IPS.

Malnutrition: Even though most people are able to get enough food to survive some 800
million people, about 15% of the world’s population suffered from chronic hunger and
malnutrition at the end of the 20th century. A poor diet during the childhood years delays 
physical maturity, produces dwarfism, impairs brain development, and reduces intelligence
even if the children affected later  receive an adequate diet. Malnutrition also lowers
resistance to disease so the undernourished are likely to have a number of other health
problems. Moreover, research shows that the damage of malnutrition is passed on from one
generation to the next.

Starvation: Starvation is a huge issue that the world’s facing, and the mortality rate for
children is being fuelled by it. When the availability of resources is scarce, starvation,
malnutrition along with ill health and disease caused by diet -deficiency such as rickets
become more likely.  Ehrlich asserted, hundreds of millions would Starve as the result of the
ticking time bomb that population increases. Actually overpopulation affects too much in the
world. “It is our responsibility to do as much as possible to reduce the harmful effects of
overpopulation.-Sinem Cengiz.
Famine:  Famines were a common event long before the population explanation and it is a
constant daily threat today. Modern famine is either the result of deliberate political policies
(the Ukraine in the 1930s Sudan right now) or of economic ideas ( Ireland in the 1840s,
China in the late 1950s).To give food to the rules of a famished country (as we did in
Ethiopia) or to distribute food so that the rulers benefit from the distribution (as they did in
Somalia) in simply to increase the power of the people who caused the famine. Then we were
puzzled that our food donations don’t stem world hunger. 

Pandemics And Epidemics:  High densities of population increase the chance of the
emergence of new Pandemics and Epidemics.
The danger of  Epidemics is always high in overpopulated and underfed areas. According to
the World Health organization,“ Every year three seconds a young child dies in most cases-
from an infectious disease .Every year 1.5 million people die from tuberculosis and another 8
million are newly infected.” With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forcing humanity to
reassess its relationship with the natural world, the report urges using this opportunity to
embark on a less anthropocentric, more sustainable path forward.

Faster Climate Change: There are now too many people on the planet using too many
resources and producing too many risky wastes. According to 97% of the scientific
community, human activities are changing Global temperatures. If more is not done to reduce
individual carbon footprints on a wider scale, larger populations may  speed these changes up
and actually it is a threat to global stability.

Sociologists for theoretical persuasions agree that the population explosion has become a real
Global crisis. Functionalists note that as death  rates have dropped, attitudes encouraging
fertility have become dysfunctional. Conflict theorists point out that the food shortage is
caused by a distribution system that gives too much food to the world and too little to the
poor. Feminists see elimination of restrictions placed on the lives of women as the key to
solving the population problem. Interactionists  have shown that high birth-rates are created
by the attitudes and beliefs found in traditional cultures. In my perspective, we say that
overpopulation is a threat to global security and stability.

5. What kinds of environmental problems are associated with the

population?
Environmental issues are defined as problems with the planet's systems (air, water, soil, etc.)
that have developed as a result of human interference or mistreatment of the planet. Our
environment is constantly change due to the  Rapid growth of population. Human population
is growing at a rate of approximately 78 million per year with over 7 billion people living on
the planet today. As population densities increase, the world will begin to feel more and more
confined restrictions and regulations increase and freedom continues to decline in order to
regulate introductions between humans and maintain economic and environmental stability.
The relationship between overpopulation and environmental impacts are open, interrelated
and complex. We see a triangle relation between overpopulation and environment.
The rapid growth of population  needs many foods and shelters. As a result, Urbanization is
increased and its create many problems such as-
● Burning fossil fuels.
● Non- renewable resources.
● Pollution.
● Increased CO2 levels.
As a result of overpopulation and urbanization we see  many environmental problems.
Actually, overpopulation is associated with negative environmental and economic outcomes
ranging from the impacts of over-farming, deforestation etc. Below are some of the key
sustainability challenges associated with Overpopulation.

Deforestation: More people means we need more food, more shelter, more wood
products and more firewood. That's why people cut down trees to build new homes and the
loss of natural habitats ,biodiversity ,loss of oxygen producers and CO2 eliminators. As a
result, the environment is greatly threatened. Actually human population increase is related to
all of this deforestation pressures.

Extinction: Extinction is the most serious, utterly irreversible effect of unsustainable human
population. Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and loss of
biodiversity. As a result of Overpopulation, too many use of natural resources and
exploitation of resource and need to more food we use chemical fertilizers, pesticides and soil
pollution that's why the  extinction is create. The density of people is a key factor in species 
threats ,“said Jeffrey McKee, one of the study’s authors.” If other species follow the same
pattern as the mammals and birds….. we are facing a serious threat to global diversity
associated with an over growing human population. As a result of extinction. Endangered
many species of birds, including our Bald Eagles.
Harvard biologist E.O.Wilson estimates that 30000 species per year(  or three species per
hour)  are being driven to extinction. As a result of human activities, ecosystems are
endangered and many species are endangered.

Intensive Farming: As the Global population increases, more food is needed that's why we
take some measures to grow more food. Intensive farming is an agricultural intensification
and mechanization system that aims to maximize yield from available land through various
means, such as heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Such practices can be
associated with soil erosion or depletion. Otherwise deforestation to create new  farmlands,
which it can  have negative outcomes. Agriculture is responsible for about 80% of
deforestation worldwide and it impacts too much in Environment.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the land used and abandoned in the last 50 years
globally may be equal to the amount of land used today.

Soil Degradation: Globally, food security depends on the factor whether or not soils are in
good condition to produce crops. According to UN estimates about 12 million hectares of
farm land a year get  seriously degraded. Soils get damaged due to many reasons. Such
reasons include erosion, overgrazing, and over exposure to pollutants.

Water Pollution:  water pollution is a major environmental problem in freshwater

ecosystem today. Rapid population growth creates a Rapid urbanization, urbanization impact
on the ecological environment. Owing to huge discharge of municipal wastewater and urban
drainage into river basins the effect is more pronounced in the water quality in these areas.
Industrial operations often drain waste into fresh water supplies.  The contamination. It water
supplies cause many diseases of  epidemic nature. As a result, one of the most important
elements of water is losses due to the Overpopulation.

Natural Resource Depletion: As the population growth increases we need many food,
shelter and many needs. That's why humans use so many  natural resources. Most of the
environmental damage seen in the last 50 old years is because of the growing number of
people on the planet. They include cutting down forest, hunting wildlife in a reckless manner,
causing pollution and creating a host of other problems like global warming, greenhouse
effect, climate change, polar ice caps, ozone depletion etc. Increased use of natural resources
leads to a Massive industrialization in Asian countries like India and China. Increased use of
natural resources leads to a number of other environmental problems.

Global Warming: Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the
Earth’s surface causing natural disasters. Human population growth and climate change have
grown hand in hand as the  use of fossil fuels have exploded to support industrialized
societies.

More people necessitates more demand for oil, coal, gas and other energy sources extracted
from below the Earth's surface that spew carbon dioxide CO2 into the atmosphere when
burned, trapping warm air inside like a greenhouse. Climate change like global warming are
the result of human practice like the emission of greenhouse gases. It’s effect-
● Increase in Co2.
● Increasing greenhouse effect.
● Increasing Global temperatures.
Actually , global warming create many problem in the environment due to  the  rapidly
growing population.
Overfishing: Overfishing affects natural ecosystems severely and leads to an imbalance of
ocean life. Around 63% of global fish stocks are estimated to be overfished. Overfishing
caused fishing fleets to migrate to new waters that would further deplete the fish stocks.
Moreover, it has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing to support their
living.

Urban Sprawl: Urban sprawl refers to the migration of population from high-density urban
areas to low-density rural areas, which results in the spreading of the city over more and more
rural land. Urban sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues
and health issues. The ever-growing demand for land displaces the natural environment
consisting of flora and fauna, instead of being replaced.

Ozone Depletion: In the 80’s, it became apparent that the ozone layer was disappearing. It
is confirmed that it is directly caused by human activity. Due to several chemical pollutants
discharged by industries and produced through other chemical reactions. The main cause of
the ozone depletion is generally attributed to the chlorofluorocarbons CFC s which are
mostly produced by highly industrialized developed countries. The depletion of the oxygen
layer is linked to both the greenhouse effect and the phenomenon of global warming.

Acid Rain: During the population growth, we support the industrialized society that’s why
human population use hand-in-hand fossil fuels. Burning of fossil fuels releases soleplates
and nutrients into air. Mix with water vapor in air and from Sulphur acid and nitric acid and it
causes acid rain. And acid rain effects is  cruel  in the environment.

Oceans Acidification: It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of

total atmospheric CO2 is produced by humans. The Ocean  acidity has increased by the last
250 years, but by 2100, it may shoot up by 150%. The main impact is on selfish and plankton
in the same way as human osteoporosis. That’s  why no life can live in them.
According to functionalists, population and the environment affect each other. Normal
population growth is essential for any society, but population growth that is too great or too
little leads to various problems. Environmental problems are to be expected in an industrial
society, but several environmental problems are dysfunctional. Conflict theory states that
population growth is not a serious problem because the world has sufficient food and other
resources, all of which must be more equitably distributed. The practice of multinational
corporation and weak regulation of these  practices account for many environmental
problems. Interactionist point out that people have certain perceptions and understandings of
population and environmental issues. Their social background affect these perceptions, which
are important to  appreciate if population and environmental problems are to be addressed.
Reference:
● Coale, Ansley J.1973. “The demographic transition”, Montgomery, Keith.” The
demographic transition”. Geography.
● Demographic transition | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy. (2014, April
29). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P2bsPWCRvM
● Writh, Louis (1938) Urbanism as a way of life, Coleman, William James and R. Kerbo,
Harold (2002) Social problems.
● Urbanization | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy. (2014, April 27). YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwcW12J1FFA&t=78s
● United Nations, World Urbanization prospects New York;2019,Basudeb Bhatta(2010)
causes and consequences of Urban Growth and Sprawl.
● Robert J. Walker (population growth and its implications for Global security),
Ehrlich,p;& Ehrlich,A.(1991). (Population growth and environmental security), The
population threat MS in Teitelbaum. Foreign Aff. Winter 1992,P.J.O’ROURKE (All the
trouble in the world).
● Ehrlich,P;& Ehrlich,A.(1991). Population growth and environmental security.,
Population and environment: A Global challenge(professor Stephen Devoers,Colin
Butler).