Whitepaper On The Impact Of Population

Whitepaper on the Impact of Population

There is no question that the world’s population will grow dramatically in the next decade. The members of the United Nations are working to understand the impact that population growth has in developing countries. For this assignment, imagine you have been hired by the UN to help assess the social impact of population growth. Your first project as a consultant with the UN is to develop a whitepaper on three issues related to the population growth faced by a developing country of your choosing. Read the overview below, then write a whitepaper addressing the questions below.

Our obsession with continual economic growth deters us from studying the role that an expanding population plays in global warming. (1) About 3 billion years ago, the earth suffered a mass extinction caused by catastrophic volcanic activity in Siberia and wildfires that covered the entire planet. Since then, four more mass extinction events eradicated up to 80% of all species each time. The world’s community of climatologists and scientists overwhelmingly agree that we are now on the verge of a sixth mass event that, over the next few tens of thousands of years, will wipe out nearly all living species on Earth, including mankind. This is not the stuff of science fiction or speculation, but rather the studied view of the experts who are most qualified to make this kind of assessment.

As anthropologist Richard Leaky, author of The Sixth Extinction, wrote in 1995, “Homo sapiens might not only be the agent of the sixth extinction, but also risks being one of its victims.” This leaves us with two issues worth reflecting on: 1. Does the rate at which people are reproducing need to be controlled to save the environment? 2. To what extent does human population growth impact global warming, and what can be done about it?

The answer to the first is quite simply “yes,” but the solution to the second is more problematic. The damage humans do to the climate is ruining the atmosphere surrounding the planet; at the rate this damage is increasing, there will eventually be no atmosphere left to protect life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Compared with other planets in our solar system, Earth has mild temperatures, thanks largely to an atmosphere protected from harmful gases. However, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (around 1775), damaging gases have become stuck in the atmosphere. This causes some of the heat radiating from the sun—that which does not exit into space—to reflect back to Earth.

The result is that oceans have become warmer, and glaciers are melting, including parts of Antarctica. If we think of Antarctica as the stopper in a bottle, its disappearance by melting away will release the water it holds, raising sea levels to uncontrollable levels and flooding coastal regions for miles inland. The two main culprits for this warming trend are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). These gases, called “greenhouse gases,” are trapped by the earth’s atmosphere and, in turn, heat up the entire planet. It is worth noting that warming oceans are killing off kelp beds throughout the earth's oceans and coastlines at a prodigious rate.

Not only do hundreds of millions of people depend on the fish that thrive on this ecosystem, but kelp is a natural absorbent of CO2 and purifies both the water and the air we breathe. A growing population that consumes natural resources is partially to blame for the release of greenhouse gases, as are deforestation, soil erosion, and farming (overturned dirt releases CO2). However, the real issue is the burning of fossil fuels (hydrocarbons) such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which is produced by the organic remains of prehistoric organisms. The release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) such as refrigerants, propellants in aerosol sprays, and solvents contributes heavily to the depletion of the ozone layer in the earth’s stratosphere.

At the current rate at which these gases and CFCs are released into the atmosphere, affecting the earth’s ecosystems and level of biodiversity, the earth’s surface temperature will increase by about two degrees Fahrenheit. This will cause changing weather patterns across the globe. In December 2017, the World Bank stated, “Climate change is an acute threat to global development and efforts to end poverty. Without urgent action, climate impacts could push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030.”

Sources include works by George Gitlitz, Gemma Tarlach, Larry LeDoux, and Bill McKibben that discuss population, extinctions, and climate change impacts.

The world’s population is expanding at such a fast rate that some natural resources are being stripped from the environment. Global institutions are working to prevent both the loss of these resources and the consequences of not having access to them. In this first assignment, research the impact of population growth on society.

Write a whitepaper for the UN that consists of a minimum of four pages (not including the cover letter). Your assignment is to assess the impact of population growth, citing at least five credible sources in your research. As you compose the whitepaper, review the United Nations list of developing countries (available on the United Nations website). Select one country from the United Nations list of developing countries to use as an example throughout your assignment. The completed version of this assignment will include the following items: 

• Cover page: include your name, course title, the country you have selected from the UN list of developing countries, current date, and the name of your instructor.
• Introduction: introduce the topic of the whitepaper (minimum half-page).
• Body: minimum of three pages addressing: (a) what are greenhouse gases and their role in global warming; (b) economic, security, political, and other challenges posed by emissions to the developing country, including major offenders; (c) potential ways to control global population growth with relevant examples for the country chosen.
• Conclusion: minimum half-page summary.
• Use of credible sources: at least five, excluding Wikipedia, dictionaries, and encyclopedias.
• Proper formatting according to Strayer Writing Standards (SWS).

The course’s specific learning outcome is to evaluate the impacts of population growth and its negative consequences on global societies while considering multiple perspectives. Grading will be based on answer quality, organization, language, and writing skills.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid growth of global population presents a multifaceted challenge to environmental sustainability, economic development, and political stability, particularly within developing countries. This whitepaper aims to explore these impacts with a focus on a specific developing country selected from the United Nations list. The discussion encompasses the science of greenhouse gases, their role in climate change, the socio-economic and political challenges posed by population-driven environmental pressures, and potential strategies for population control.

Understanding Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

Greenhouse gases (GHGs), primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are naturally occurring substances that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2014). Human activities, notably the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices, have significantly increased the concentration of these gases since the Industrial Revolution (Davis et al., 2019). The enhanced greenhouse effect leads to global warming, characterized by rising average global temperatures, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels (NASA, 2021). Specifically, CO2 from fossil fuel combustion accounts for the majority of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, primarily attributable to industrial activity, transportation, and energy production (Le Quéré et al., 2018).

Challenges in Developing Countries

Developing countries face unique challenges from increasing greenhouse gas emissions. These include heightened vulnerabilities to climate impacts such as flooding, droughts, and food insecurity, which threaten socio-economic stability (World Bank, 2018). Economically, the costs of adapting to climate change often surpass the financial capacity of these nations. Politically, resource scarcity and environmental degradation can exacerbate tensions and lead to conflict (Kadidi et al., 2020). Moreover, security concerns related to displacement and migration are intensified by climate-induced disasters (Barnett & Adger, 2007). The biggest offenders tend to be local industries, transportation sectors, and traditional reliance on fossil fuels, with notable contributions from illegal logging and deforestation.

Controlling Population Growth

Global population control remains a contentious issue. However, some strategies have proven effective, particularly when tailored to the cultural and socio-economic context of a specific country. Family planning programs, education on reproductive health, and women's empowerment initiatives have demonstrated success in reducing birth rates (Bongaarts & Sinding, 2009). For example, in Bangladesh, targeted family planning campaigns and increased access to contraception led to a significant decline in fertility rates (Raftery et al., 2012). Implementing such measures in the chosen country, with respect to cultural sensitivities and infrastructural capacity, can contribute substantially to moderating population growth. International cooperation and funding are essential to support these programs and ensure sustainability.

Conclusion

The interconnectedness of population growth, environmental degradation, and socio-economic stability requires comprehensive, culturally sensitive approaches. By addressing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in sustainable development, and promoting reproductive health, developing countries can mitigate some of the adverse impacts associated with rapid population increases. Policy frameworks that integrate environmental conservation with social development are critical for a resilient future. For the selected country, a multifaceted approach that combines education, policy reform, and international support offers the most promising path toward sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.

References

• Barnett, J., & Adger, W. N. (2007). Climate change, human security and violent conflict. Political Geography, 26(6), 639-655.
• Bongaarts, J., & Sinding, S. (2009). Population policy in transition in the developing world. Science, 325(5933), 964-965.
• Davis, S. J., et al. (2019). The role of fossil fuels in the climate change debate. Environmental Research Letters, 14(6), 064012.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Geneva: IPCC.
• Kadidi, D., et al. (2020). Political stability and climate change resilience in developing countries: A review. Global Environmental Politics, 20(2), 90-108.
• Le Quéré, C., et al. (2018). Global Carbon Budget 2018. Earth System Science Data, 10(4), 2141-2194.
• NASA. (2021). Climate Change: How do we know? NASA's Global Climate Change Website.
• Raftery, A. E., et al. (2012). Can family planning help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals? World Development, 40(10), 1880-1890.
• World Bank. (2018). Climate Change Overview. World Bank Publications.
• Leary, R., & Leaky, R. (1995). The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. Harvard University Press.