population and resources

Question 1

the population resources and pollution model

Answer 1

represents a fundimental ecological relationship

Question 2

is there positive and negative feedback between the population and resource model?

Answer 2

YES

Question 3

what are the 4 challenges driven by human population growth?

Answer 3

environmental degradation
economic loss
political conflict
social disruption

Question 4

what are the challenges with political conflict (population growth)

Answer 4

• managing resources
• managing population
• conflicts/wars over resources
• pressure to use protected areas

Question 5

what are the challenges with social disruption? (population growth)

Answer 5

• demand for housing
• increase in population size
• disease/pandemics
• providing adequate healthcare

Question 6

what are the challenges with economic loss (population growth)

Answer 6

• more energy use
• increased unemployment
• scarce resources
• price rises

Question 7

what are the challenges with environmental degradation?

Answer 7

• increased pollution
• more waste
• climate change
• increased use of fossil fuels
• habitat loss
• deforestation
• pressure on space

Question 8

UN population estimates

Answer 8

predicted 3 scenarios for population change

Question 9

UN population estimates scenario 1

Answer 9

population continuing to increase rapidly -finding ways to cope with increasing demand

Question 10

UN population estimates scenario 2

Answer 10

gradual slowing in growth rate due to better healthcare and people having children later

Question 11

UN population estimates scenario 3

Answer 11

drastic action will have been taken to reduce population growth e.g war and disease outbreaks

Question 12

contrasting perspectives on population growth. who are the 3 perspectives

Answer 12

julian simon
thomas malthus
ester boserup

Question 13

predictions of thomas malthus

Answer 13

-unless population was slowed by for example later marriages the exponential rise would outstrip food supply ( reach a point where we cant cope any longer) wont be enough resources

Question 14

malthus graph

Answer 14

population grows rapidly

exceeds carrying capacity

Question 15

what are the problems with malthus’ ideas?

Answer 15

based on western experience

Question 16

support for mathusian predictions - club of rome

Answer 16

1968 used computerised models to investigate the state of a range of resources as well as pop growth
their limits to growth report predicted that economic growth could not continue because of the limited availability of natural resources

Question 17

what did the limits to growth model predict?

Answer 17

• population would continue to rise until 2050 and decline after
• rapid resource depletion in first half of 21st century
• pollution increases then falls in 2030

Question 18

predictions of ester boserup

Answer 18

argued agricultural innovations such as green revolution proved population growth stimulated changes necessary to support extra numbers

Question 19

predictions of julian simon

Answer 19

at times of scarity the greatest gains could be made from entrepreneurs substituting new resources and innovating

Question 20

contemporary issues

Answer 20

demographic growth
agricultural growth
consumption growth
environmental degradation

Question 21

does technology have all the answers

Answer 21

• limits of food production by environmental factors
• soil exhaustion and erosion
• climate change
• water shortages and pollution
• technology may be available but not shared
• may be too expensive in some regions