Running head: POPULATION GROWTH AND CARBON EMISSIONS 1

Population growth and carbon emissions

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Population growth and carbon emissions

The buildup of human-generated greenhouse gases in the environment causing global

climate disruption will be a major threat to biodiversity and ecology of the planet. People around

the world are finding a solution for the problem through better technology and less consumption

of fossil fuels in an effort to reduce carbon footprint. High human population growth which is

becoming unsustainable can devastate these efforts, concluding that people not only need smaller

footprints but fewer feet. According to Hayner (2016), in a research about the connection

between global warming and population growth, which indicated that carbon legacy of a child

can emit twenty times more greenhouse gas than an individual will save when using energy-

efficient gadgets and light bulbs, and driving a high-mileage car. An element that would be

considered in carbon emissions as the utilization of carbon is the use of fossil fuels, such as crude

oil, coil or gas. Carbon emission can be caused by just driving or from factories burning fossil

fuels and the released carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere. The huge intake of carbon

dioxide at once will overwhelm the earth to reduce the levels back to normal range.

A lot of different combinations and elements are linked to the carbon emissions and

population rate. Human activities causing high carbon emission are high than at any time in

history. According to Scaringi (2017), global carbon emissions were 180 times more in 2012

than they were in 1860. Countries with fastest population growth are focusing to improve

people’s lives, work and grow food, that they do not have many activities that burn fossil fuels in

their land. The way of living for people in these countries plays a vital role that when they live a

simple life then it means that they are saving energy and this will reduce dependence on energy

and this makes the country slowest increase in carbon emission. What they do is import already

manufactured products and minimizes factories that emit carbon. A factor that goes into this is
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the cost for both countries. The country that is trying to get rid of the fossil fuels is going have to

spend the money to ship them elsewhere and also pay the country that is burning them. Other

small nations that can invest in manufacturing are improving their production because it

increases gross domestic product and creates jobs for more of their citizens. They also venture

into mass production because right now the earth has not seen the long-term effect this has on the

environment, the people doing it and public health for the people that are around it.

The other reason why counties with the fastest population growth also had the slowest

increase in carbon emission is because of the industrial production that goes on in their countries.

For example, Thailand has a small population growth and has a very high carbon emission.

Thailand is known for having a bunch of factories. Countries like the United States and Europe

will set up factories in countries like Thailand because it is so much cheaper than in their home

county. The materials, building, labor and products are all cheaper as well so that will cut the

cost of making the product to be able to make more money off of the product. Lastly, it is this

way because the countries all try to benefit from getting rid of the carbon emissions so that they

may end up somewhere else rather than where they are being used in the first place.
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References

Hayner, M. (2016). Two Theories of Responsibility for Past Emissions of Carbon Dioxide. SSRN

Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2783390

Scaringi, G. (2017). Climate Change-Driven Landslides Can Enhance Carbon Dioxide

Emissions. Science Trends. https://doi.org/10.31988/scitrends.4727