The U.N. estimated that the world population reached 7 billion on Monday, leading many to question whether or not the Earth can sustain the rapid growth of humans.
The societal impact from this growth is a complicated issue to look at, ASU sociology professor Jennifer Glick said.
“We know we’re relying on some finite resources (such as) fossil fuels and water,” she said. “We really need to think about how to conserve those resources.”
Glick said the distribution of these resources around the world is even more critical.
The population growth presents different issues depending on which part of the world is examined, she said.
“If we look at the United States, in comparison to parts of the developing world that have been growing very rapidly, we’re really looking at populations that are young,” she said. “We’re talking about populations that need a lot of social and political infrastructures to provide education to a young population that needs job opportunities.”
U.N. spokesman Dan Shepard said everyone has to come together in finding solutions to future issues with a growing population.
“We can sustain the population but it will take everyone’s cooperation,” Shepard said. “We have to use our resources wisely, produce food that’s accessible to everyone (and) produce energy that’s accessible to everyone in a way that doesn’t deplete the world’s resources.”
He said prosperity must be promoted while improving the quality of life and protecting the environment.
“You cannot promote prosperity at the expense of the environment, nor can you go the other way,” Shepard said.
Professor Yasmin Saikia of ASU’s Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict said resources that are not carefully conserved and distributed with equity around the world could someday promote conflict among nations that do not have enough.
She said a way to avoid these conflicts would be through political policy changes.
Saikia noted India as an example of a country that could become involved in a conflict because of its growing population and high poverty rate.
“You have to have both national policies and international kind of arrangements in which you have these very serious discussions,” Saikia said.
She said the increasing population will put pressure on natural resources, namely water.
“It’s a question of how to preserve it,” Saikia said. “We have to have education that teaches you how to use water properly.”
Although many do worry about depletion of resources as the world’s population grows, Saikia thinks the world can sustain the growth if the world’s countries can work together.
“People need to realize that we live in the world together … and have a sense of knowledge of human existence and human value,” Saikia said. “Only then can you and I see that we can share the same space.”
The U.S. Census Bureau’s world population estimate is not in tune with the U.N. The Bureau reports the world’s population is still more than 25 million away from reaching 7 billion — a milestone that won’t be reached until April.
Reach the reporter at kmmandev@asu.edu
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