2. Population and Scarcity

Question 1

The desert metropolis, low desert depression: “

Answer 1

“The Valley of the Sun”

Question 2

Who made this assertion, in its clearest form, was that the capacity of population to grow is greater than the power of the Earth to provide resources

Answer 2

Reverend Dr. Thoman Robert Malthus

Question 3

is the single greatest influence on the status of the Earth and its resources.

Answer 3

Population

Question 4

What is Exponential/ Geometric Growth

Answer 4

A condition of growth where the rate is mathematically proportional to the current value, leading to continued, non-linear increase of the quantity; in population, this refers to a state of increasingly accelerated and compounded growth, with ecological implications for scarcity

• Rapid and Accelerating Growth

Question 5

Malthus argued, the food base for this growing population over time
is essentially fixed or, perhaps, amenable to slight alteration through “____” (“linear”
in today’s terms) expansion.

Answer 5

arithmetic

Question 6

The natural limits to growth and act to keep population in check

Answer 6

wars, famine, destitution, and disease

Question 7

One approach, pioneered by ____ (1974), seeks to measure the impact of human beings on the environment, taking seriously not only raw numbers of people but
also their overall rate and type of consumption

Answer 7

Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren

Question 8

a shorthand equation (IPAT) to determine the level of environmental impact

Answer 8

impact (I) = population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T)

Question 9

What is Neo-Malthusians

Answer 9

Present-day adherents to a position – established by Malthus in
the nineteenth century – that population growth outstrips limited natural resources and presents the single greatest driver of environmental degradation and crisis

The modern version of the Malthusians theory, considering and applying the modern environmental concerns.Neo-Malthusians believe that limiting population growth is necessary for sustainability.

Question 10

What is Kuznets Curve (Environmental)

Answer 10

is an invertedU shape graphical relationship that shows the connection between an economic development to various factors such as income inequality, and environmental impacts. So the curve shows that income inequality will increase as the economy developing, and it will decrease as the economy has reached a state of overall affluence.

Question 11

those more recent adherents to a population-based way of thinking about environmental issues, to argue that population is the
paramount factor in this equation.

Answer 11

neo-Malthusians

Question 12

He explains that population requires the most immediate attention “precisely because population is the most difficult and slowest to yield among the components of environmental deterioration.

Answer 12

Paul Ehrlich

Question 13

Critics like __ Commoner stress that ___ has by far the greatest influence on environmental impact,

Answer 13

Barry
Technology

Question 14

In ___, it is predicted that as development initially occurs, environmental impact increases, with per capita use of resources rising, pollution increasing, and damage to ecosystems like forests rising, and doing so at a rising rate. After a threshold, however, regulation, affluence, and economic transition begin to increase and impacts of humans fall dramatically.

Answer 14

environmental Kuznets curve (named for economist Simon Kuznets)

Question 15

A model that predicts a period of deforestation in a region during development, when the forest is a resource or land is cleared for agriculture, followed by a return of forest when the economy changes and population outmigrates and/or becomes conservation-oriented

Answer 15

Forest Transition Theory

Question 16

The theoretical limit of population (animal, human, or otherwise) that a system can sustain

Answer 16

Carrying Capacity

Question 17

The theoretical spatial extent of the earth’s surface required to sustain an individual, group, system, organization; an index of environmental impact

Answer 17

Ecological Footprint

measures how much land, water, and resources people use to support their lifestyle and how much waste they produce. It shows whether we are using resources faster than the Earth can regenerate, and this helps usunderstand our impact on the environment.

Question 18

A thesis predicting that where agricultural populations grow, demands for food lead to technological innovations resulting in increased food production on the same amount of available land

Answer 18

Induced Intensification (More people= More food)

• is the idea that as the population increases than the demand for more food and resources also increased and so societies develop new technologies or farming techniques to increase food production.

Question 19

What is Green Revolution

Answer 19

The Green Revolution was a period from the 1950s to the 1980s when new farming techniques and technologies were introduced to produce more food. Scientists developed better seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, which helped crops grow faster and in larger amounts. However, this also meant farmers had to use more chemicals, water, and machines to keep up with these new methods.

Question 20

Owing to new cultivation techniques and input-heavy systems of agricultural production, the so-called

Answer 20

Green Revolution

Question 21

A condition in a population where the number of births matches the number of deaths and therefore there is no net increase; an idealized condition for those concerned about overpopulation

Answer 21

Zero Population Growth

Question 22

A measure of mortality in a population, typically expressed as the number of deaths per thousand population per year

Answer 22

Death Rate

Question 23

A measure of natural growth in a population, typically expressed as the number of births per thousand population per year

Answer 23

Birth Rate

Question 24

A model of population change that predicts a decline in population death rates associated with modernization, followed by a decline in birth rates resulting from industrialization and urbanization; this creates a sigmoidal curve where population growth increases rapidly for a period, then levels off

Answer 24

Demographic Transition Model

it shows how a population can change. It is a model that shows the graphical relationship of death rates and birth rates along with the various factors, like modernization, industrialization, and urbanization..

Question 25

Explain DTM

Answer 25

The demographic transition model. In theory, falling death rates lead to population growth, but as birth rates fall thereafter, the rate of growth slows, eventually ceasing when the two reach equilibrium.

Question 26

A measure describing the average number of children birthed by an average statistical woman during her reproductive lifetime

Answer 26

Fertility Rate

Question 27

a measure that was not considered in any way by Malthus, is alternatively measured as either 1) the level of consumption of the population or 2) the per capita gross domestic product. In other words, one considers how many goods per capita (per person) are consumed in that country or area or the total production in the country, divided by the population.

Answer 27

Affluence

Question 28

Environmental impacts of individual people and groups can vary enormously, owing to variations in ____

Answer 28

technology and affluence.

Question 29

Population growth has often led to increased ____, owing to induced intensification and innovation.

Answer 29

carrying capacity

Question 30

_____ analysis can be used as indices to think about impacts of human individuals and populations.

Answer 30

Carrying capacity and ecological footprint

Question 31

Chapter 2 summary

Answer 31

Human population growth follows an exponential pattern, posing challenges for environmental sustainability. Its impact varies due to differences in technology and wealth, though growth has sometimes increased carrying capacity through innovation. Tools like carrying capacity and ecological footprint analysis help assess human impact. However, Malthusian theories have limitations, as population trends are influenced by factors like development, women's rights, and education.

Question 32

What “crisis” did Malthus predict as inevitable? What was his proposed solution?

Answer 32

Malthus predicted that population growth would inevitably outpace food production, leading to crises. His proposed solution was moral restraint, particularly urging people, especially women, to limit reproduction.

Question 33

While Malthus blamed the poor for pending crises, contemporary thinkers like Paul Ehrlich place equal blame on the very wealthy. Why is this the case? (Hint: think I = P*A*T)

Answer 33

Unlike Malthus, Paul Ehrlich and others argue that environmental impact is also influenced by affluence and technology, as represented by the IPAT equation (Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology). Wealthy individuals consume more resources, produce more waste, and use energy-intensive technologies, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. This view suggests that both overpopulation and excessive resource consumption by the rich are responsible for environmental problems.

Question 34

Who has a larger ecological footprint, you or a subsistence fisher in coastal Bangladesh? Explain.

Answer 34

A typical person in the Philippines has a larger ecological footprint than a subsistence fisher in coastal Bangladesh. While both countries are developing, urban dwellers in the Philippines use more electricity, transportation, and processed goods compared to fishers who rely mainly on local natural resources. However, the footprint of an average Filipino is still much smaller than that of someone in a highly industrialized and affluent country.

Question 35

How can population growth force a transition from extensive agriculture to intensive agriculture? How does this transition often lead to innovation?

Answer 35

Population growth increases demand for food, which can push societies to shift from extensive agriculture (large land use with low yields) to intensive agriculture (higher yields per unit area). This transition often leads to innovations such as soil fertilization, irrigation, and high-yield crop varieties to sustain food production. The Green Revolution is an example of such innovation, where technological advancements increased agricultural productivity to meet growing food demands.

Question 36

What factors led to the dramatic decrease in population growth rates in Kerala, India? Compare the case of Kerala to India’s national population control program put into place in the 1970s.

Answer 36

In Kerala, high literacy rates, especially among women, along with better healthcare and social reforms, contributed to a dramatic decline in population growth. Unlike India’s national population control program in the 1970s, which included coercive measures such as forced sterilizations, Kerala’s approach focused on education, healthcare, and empowerment, leading to voluntary population control. This demonstrates that social development and women’s rights are more effective in reducing birth rates than forced government policies.

Question 37

As of 2012, the Birth Rates in Japan and Germany were 9 per thousand and 8 per thousand respectively. These are very low rates and portend an overall “baby bust” as people have fewer children every year. Can you think of problems that might emerge in these places from having too few children? What challenges might such countries face in the next 20 years? How might they be solved?

Answer 37

Having too few children can lead to a shrinking workforce and an aging population, causing economic and social challenges. To address this, countries can encourage higher birth rates through family-friendly policies, immigration, and better support for working parents.

Question 38

New Malthusians

Answer 38

1. Ehrlich & Holdren (Affluence & Technology) 2. Commoner (Technology) 3. Esler Boserup (Intensification, eg. Green Revolution) 4. Garret Hardin - Fishing Effort

Question 39

What is Carrying Capacity

Answer 39

the number of people that could theoretically be sustained in one area - maximum number of people (or organisms) that an area can support without running out of resources like food, water, and space. It depends on factors like available resources, environmental conditions, and human activities. If the population exceeds this limit, resources may become scarce, leading to problems like food shortages and environmental damage.