8/12/2019 Apes Dlt Human Growth

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Nivi ThomasPer 1

10/31/13

"Fertility Rates Fall, but Global Population Explosion Goes On" latimes.com, July 22, 2012

The world's population is 7 billion and growing, but why when fertility rates are dropping? This trend iscalled population momentum and is extremely prevalent in large, developing countries like India. At a

population of 1.2 billion people, India's growth rate isn't a light matter. Currently the average birth rate is2.5, and it is projected to drop to 2.1 by 2013- just barely enough to replace the parent population. But

because of India's large reproductive population and reduced infant mortality rates, the "populationmomentum train" will not slow for the next 3 generations; in other words the population growth will not

peak till 2060. With the projected 2.5 worldwide birth rate, the global population is estimated to reach 11 billion by 2050.

Many complications arise from growth in populations. One of the leading factors for concern is foodshortages. To meet the demand, farmers have to double the production of their crops. For many countries

around the world, including India, this will be hard to do. Many scientists have exhausted all foreseeableoptions for modification of seeds to produce more crop per acre after the famous "green revolution". Mostof the useable land has already been used or destroyed, and more will disappear quickly due to climatechange and urbanization of rural areas. Despite the obvious complications of growing populations, manydeveloped countries (whose growth rates are dropping) are worried about the implications of the future,without large amounts of young workers to fuel the economy and care for the old. The opposite is true fordeveloping countries- fertility rates are high, and so are the reproductive ages in the population. Oftentimes, a household may not be able to sustain feeding 6 mouths with meager wages. Advocacy forcontraceptives are a major role in controlling birth rates in these countries. With a choice, wiser decisionscan be made. But can a decision be made between developing and developed countries with a choice ofsurvival, or economic growth?

I believe that developed countries and their politicians need to look beyond short term benefits, and caterto long term predictions. With climate change, population growth, and limited resources, the human

population as well as the rest of the world will proceed into extinction if there is nothing done about it.What good does economic benefit serve if the human race is terminated in the following 20 years? Bycontrolling carbon emissions, birth rates, and being more efficient and less wasteful with food and watersources, there can be a way to save planet Earth as it is now, as well as our future.