final essay - global warming

8/3/2019 Final Essay - Global Warming

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Jarett Lopez 6385761 Lopez 1

Dr. E. Bailey

ENG1100F

November 30, 2011

Population control: global warming

Global warming is a phenomenon caused by an influx of greenhouse gases that

intensify the green house effect. The green house effect is a process in which heat energy is

absorbed and redistributed by the gases that make up a planets atmosphere. The main gases that

contribute to the effect are: water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane. The suns radiation alone

isnt enough to sustain life on Earth. Without the greenhouse effect the Earths surface

temperature would be approximately -18.5 oC, without it, life on Earth as we know wouldnt be

possible. This fact begs the question, why has the greenhouse effect become a problem? The

answer has come to the forefront of world politics in recent years, with many commentators

arguing that, while climate change is inevitable, the speed at which it is happening has escalated

significantly over the past century.

The fundamental reason behind this shift is the accelerated growth of the human

population. This drastic rise in the human population in the last century, has led to a

transformation of the natural environment by humans that is unprecedented in its scale. (Dutta

and Radner 252). The relation between population growth and energy demands is clear. Each

living person on earth in one way or another makes demands on the energy for providing their

basic needs such as food, water, shelter and so on. Therefore, the greater the number of people,

the greater the demands on energy (Shi 4). Meeting these demands has resulted in a drastic rise

in greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing their effects, thus precipitating a global warming crisis.

It is important to understand how the population explosion affected the pace of global warming because, on average, 1 percent of population growth is associated with a 1.28 percentage

increase in emissions. (Shi 2). What we gain from this knowledge is insight into the cause of the

explosion and possible solutions we can use to fix it. One of which is the conclusion that,

theoretically, if 1 percent population growth results in approximately the same amount of

emission growth, then 1 a percent decrease in population should result in a corresponding


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emission decrease. With this information in mind, it affects the way we should approach climate

change policy, currently the laws are made to target emissions themselves, which are symptoms

of the problem, but instead they should target the source of the problem itself, the population

creating the emissions.

However, population control has been an issue of controversy ever since China,

imposed its one-child policy (Stevenson, Newman and Mayhew 152). There are various

proposed solutions to limit population growth, emigration, decreasing immigration,

contraception, abstinence, medical abortion, family planning none of which are capable of

effectively solving the problem. The only solutions capable of solving the population growth

problem are radical and will infringe on human rights.

Given that unrelenting growth of human population is the main cause behind theacceleration of global warming, the focus of climate change policies should be altered from

reducing emissions to managing population growth. Due to the reluctance of governments to

implement radical but effective solutions, the population and consequently the global warming

crises will remain unresolved.

We are aware of our growing population, the statistic is used in multiple news stories,

mentioned in several course curriculums and is often linked to various international issues.

NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) and international governments alike refer to our

growing population in several other their prevalent issues such as health care, world hunger,

potable water shortages, energy consumption and war.

Energy consumption is in direct relation to emissions. The primary source of energy

production is generated through the burning of fossil fuels (Dutta 252). Oil, petroleum and

natural gas, when burned, produce a substantial quantity of energy per unit weight. However,

burning of these fuels also produces various emissions which increase the amount of

greenhouses gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are gases that are capable of exchanging

heat energy. The earths greenhouse gases relevant to the issue of global warming include:

carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.

The main cause of these CO2 emissions [comes] from fossil-fuel combustion and

industrial processes (Raupach and Canadell 10288). The burning of fossil fuels produces


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approximately 30 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year (Le Qur 832). As a result of this,

global atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased from 280 ppm in the 1700s to 380 ppm in

2005 (Field 10288). However, the earths natural processes are only capable of absorbing about

half of that amount, so there is a net increase of 10.65 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon

dioxide per year.

The earth has had carbon dioxide in its atmosphere long before the existence of human

beings. The carbon cycle is the, biogeochemical cycle that allows for carbon to be recycled and

reused (Field and Raupach 168) throughout the earths atmosphere and all of its organisms.

Until approximately 1750, the carbon cycle used approximately 596.4 billion tonnes of carbon

to complete its cycle (Field and Raupach 172). Around this time was the industrial revolution

which introduced several improvements in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation,and technology.

These improvements brought about an exponential growth in population, which was

less than 8 million at the time, as well as the burning fossil fuels. Since then, the earths

population has grown by 6.2 billion people, and has over 231.1 billion tonnes of excess carbon.

This surplus of carbon is generated primarily by the burning of fossil fuels and cannot be used by

the carbon cycle. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted is dependent on the amount of fuel

burnt. This amount is dependent on the energy demands of the population, which increases as it

does. Therefore carbon emissions that cause global warming by intensifying the greenhouse

effect are due to human population growth.

Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas with the global warming potential that is 25

times higher than carbon dioxide (Ledley and Killeen 453). The only reason it is less of a

concern that carbon dioxide today is because there is less of it in our atmosphere. However, the

concentration of methane in the atmosphere has been steadily increasing due to the increasing

human population.

Methane emissions come from various sources, one of which energy production which

has already been proven to be the cause of human population growth. Another is the

decomposition of organic waste, mainly in landfills (Gendebien 65). Since the rise of human

population following the industrial revolution, the amount of waste produced has risen


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exponentially. Back then, the immediate solution used to solve this problem was one which only

created more greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of waste in the worlds largest collection of

waste is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Its area is estimated to be up to 8,000 sq mi, twice the

size of Hawaii (Coulter 1964). Along with the North Atlantic and Indian Ocean garbage patches

growing over the last several decades the amount of methane being emitted is astronomical. The

ever growing human population has increasing demands for production which results in the ever

growing amount of waste. Since the industrial revolution the amount of methane emitted from

landfills has risen from 30 to 70 million tonnes per year (Gendebien 254). Most of this landfill

methane comes from developing countries which have the highest population growth rate.

Therefore population growth rate has caused the emissions of the greenhouse gas methane which

causes global warming.Approximately 1.5 billion cows produce up to 348.4 million tonnes of methane a day

(Live Animal 2009 Data). This means that the methane emission from cows alone in one year is

over 127.2 billion tonnes. There are two closely related reasons for the massive cow population.

The first is the integral part of cow byproducts to the human food supply. This supply is in

constant growth due to the human population growth. The second reason is the economic

potential of the 30 billion beef industry. The demand caused by the increasing population causes

the industry to produce more, for more profits. Therefore increasing population is the cause of

the methane produced by cattle and livestock.

Water vapor is the most powerful of the greenhouse gases due to containing the

hydroxide ion. This ion absorbs more thermal and light energy than the other greenhouse gases.

Water vapor accounts for up to 72% of the greenhouse effect and is 25 times more prevalent than

carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Stephens 634). The ClausiusClapeyron relation which proves

that as it warms, air is capable of holding more water vapor (Stephens 634). This suggests

that increased temperatures caused by other greenhouse gases increase the amount of water

vapor in the atmosphere. Therefore population growth indirectly increases the potency of the

most abundant green house gas causing global warming.


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The primary objective of current climate change policies worldwide is the reduction of

emissions. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an

international environmental treaty created to unify the world in the fight against global warming.

The main goal of the UNFCCC is, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the

atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate

system (United Nations 1994). Several countries have put forth solutions of how they will

reduce their emissions, citing the burning of fossil fuels as the root cause.

Nevertheless, as proven above, the burning of fossil fuels is a contributing factor, with

human population growth being the root cause. Policies targeted at reducing emissions are as

useful as treating for the symptoms of a disease. Treating the symptoms are temporary fixes for a

disease that will remain uncured. In this case, the disease is global warming, the symptoms areemissions and the vaccine is population reduction. Therefore the proposed solutions for global

warming by countries today are ultimately useless in the resolution of the initial problem,

population growth.

Assuming, the Earths nations realize the fundamental cause of global warming, another

problem will arise. Governments will be reluctant to implement solutions that will veritably

succeed. The issue of over population and depopulation is a highly criticized and controversial

one. Proposed solutions for overpopulation included: emigration, decreasing immigration,

contraception, abstinence, medical abortion, family planning, sterilization and genocide.

To fully understand the problem, the calculation of population growth must be clear.

Population growth is determined by four factors: deaths, births, immigration and emigration. The

formula used to express it involves the difference between births and deaths added to the

difference between immigration and emigration. In the calculation of world population growth,

immigration and emigration are omitted due to the current impossibility of extra-terrestrial

migration. Therefore there are two ways in which to reduce growth rate, lower the birth rate or

raise the death rate.

Contraception and abstinence are solutions that derive from controlling the act of

reproduction itself. These solutions impose no obligation on those with the intent of reproducing,

they only serve to minimize the accidental births of those exclusively engaging in sexual

intercourse. Medical abortion is a solution that occurs after contraception and abstinence has


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failed, and is the subject of its own controversies. Family planning such as Chinas 1 child policy

has had minimal effectiveness due to its many exceptions and difficult enforcement (Greenhalgh

308). Such solutions are described as too little, too late and too expensive, or they have

sociological costs which hobble their effectiveness (Ehrlich and Holdren 1215).

All proposed solutions above are in effect in several countries and have proven to be

ineffective in the repression of population growth. None the less, governments continue to put

forth these futile policies knowing that effective ones exist. Sterilization would be the solution

resulting in the lowering of the birth rate. Sterilization of populations would remove not only the

intent but the ability to reproduce. Genocide would be the solution resulting in the simultaneous

reduction in the birth rate and rise in the death rate, and therefore the most effective solution to

human population growth.Anyone with a shred of humanity will understand why these solutions, though effective

will not be implemented by governments. Sensitivities in discussing population at government

or international levels have persisted since human rights concerns were raised in the 1960s and

1970s over aggressive population control policies (Stevenson, Newman and Mayhew 153).

Population growth solutions that would violate basic human rights such as sterilization and

genocide would cause numerous problems for governments. Such suggestions are described as

desperate and repressive measures for population control ( Ehrlich and Holdren 1216). Terms

such as radical, extreme, inhumane and other similar terms would be issued at the first sign of

such solutions. The mere indication would result in protests, riots, revolutions, impeachments

and overall moral, social and societal opposition of the masses. Therefore governments are not

only reluctant, but opposed to introducing effective solutions for population growth such as

sterilization and genocide.

As radical and unethical as they may be, there is no denying how effective such solutions

would be if used correctly. For example, it is proven that as adults become senior citizens their

energy demands rise (ONeill and Chen 59). This is because, although their transportation

demands minimize, due to their lack of physical mobility, their residential energy consumption

rises exponentially (ONeill and Chen 59). Additionally, the energy needs of the elderly increase

as their basic needs become insufficient to sustain their lives. 2 billion people will be aged 60

and older by 2050 (World Health Organization 2011), the systematic eradication of seniors


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would dramatically lower the energy demands associated with providing their basic and

advanced needs. Still, this would only increase the death rate and is not a permanent solution.

The most effective and permanent solution for the increased population growth and consequently

global warming is the sterilization of the fertile population in developing countries. Developing

countries are responsible for 88% of the world population growth (World Bank 16), and with an

approximate 1:1 ratio of population to emission reduction, the sterilization of developing

countries would reduce emissions by 88%.

Conversely, as mentioned earlier, governments will not impose such drastic and radical

solutions that are guaranteed to work. One reason for this is the blatant violation of human rights

resulting in political suicide for the government. Therefore the problem of the relentless human

growth rate and consequently the threat of global warming will go unsolved indefinitely.


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Coulter, Jessica R. A sea change to change the sea: Stopping the spread of the pacific garbage patch with small-scale environmental legislation William & Mary Law Review 51.5 (2010):1959-1995. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

Dutta, Prajit K, and Roy Radner. Population growth and technological change in a globalwarming model. Economic Theory 29.2 (2005) : 251-270. Print.

Ehrlich, Paul R., and John P. Holdren. "Impact of Population Growth." Science 171.3977 (1971):1212-217. Print.

Field, Christopher B.., and Michael R. Raupach. The global carbon cycle integrating humans,climate, and the natural world. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2004. Print.

Gendebien, A. Landfill gas: from environment to energy. Luxembourg: Office for OfficialPublications of the European Communities, 1992. Print.

Greenhalgh, Susan. Just one child: science and policy in Deng's China. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. Print.

Ledley, Tamara S. , and Timothy L. Killeen. "Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases."American Geophysical Union 80.39 (1999): 453-474. Print.

Le Qur, Corinne et al. Trends in the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide. NatureGeoscience 2.12 (2009) : 831-836. Print.

"Live Animal 2009 Data." FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. Version 1. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, 17 May 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2011..

ONeill and Chen, 2002: Demographic determinants of household energy use in theUnited States. Popul. Dev. Rev. 28:53 88

Raupach, Michael R., Gregg Marland, Philippe Ciais, Corinne Le Quere, Josep G. Canadell,Gernot Klepper, and Christopher B. Field. "Global and regional drivers of accelerating CO2emissions." PNAS 104.24 (2007): 1028810293. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.
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Rowbotham, Victoria, and John Moffet. "Population Aging: From Problem to Opportunity."Horizons Policy Research Initiative 6.2 (2003): 1-64. Print.

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