Why do we need to talk about population and sustainability?
An Environmental Article from All-Creatures.org

From

Stephanie Feldstein, Center for Biological Diversity
July 2015

Most biologists agree that we’re in the midst of the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event; species are disappearing at the fastest rate since dinosaurs roamed the planet. This time, though, it isn’t because of geologic or cosmic forces — it’s because of our unsustainable human population growth and overconsumption.

The world’s human population doubled from 1 to 2 billion between 1800 and 1930, and then doubled again by 1975. At the end of October 2011, it surpassed 7 billion. Now, every day we add 227,000 more people to the planet. This staggering increase, and the massive consumption it drives, are overwhelming our planet’s finite resources. As the world’s population grows, so do its demands for water, land, trees and fossil fuels — all of which come at a steep price for already endangered plants and animals. And as our global economy continues to demand more growth, unsustainable industries — like raising livestock for meat — spread around the world, gobbling up land and water and leaving in their wake greenhouse gases and habitat destruction.

We’ve already witnessed the devastating effects of human population growth on biodiversity: Species abundant in North America just two centuries ago — from the woodland bison of West Virginia and Arizona’s Merriam’s elk to the Rocky Mountain grasshopper, passenger pigeon and Puerto Rico’s Culebra parrot — have been wiped out by growing human numbers.

Most biologists agree that we’re in the midst of the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event; species are disappearing at the fastest rate since dinosaurs roamed the planet. This time, though, it isn’t because of geologic or cosmic forces — it’s because of our unsustainable human population growth and overconsumption.

We can reduce our own population and consumption to an ecologically sustainable level in ways that promote human rights; decrease poverty and overcrowding; raise our standard of living; and allow plants, animals and ecosystems to thrive. Please join the Center’s campaign now by visiting our website and signing up for this program’s free monthly e-newsletter.

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