Chapter 14, Population and

Environmental Problems
The

Global Context: a World View of

Population Growth
Sociological Theories of Population and
Environmental Problems
Social Problems Related to Population Growth
Strategies for Action: Slowing Population
Growth

Chapter 14, Population and

Environmental Problems
Environmental

Problems
Social Causes of Environmental Problems
Strategies for Action: Responding to
Environmental Problems

World Population Growth

In

A.D. 1, world population was 250 million.

In 1830, world population was one billion.
In 1999, world population reached 6 billion.

United States Population Growth

Colonial

era (1650) - population included

50,000 colonists and 750,000 native
Americans.
1859 - disease and warfare reduced the native
American population to 250,000, while the
European population increased to 23 million.

United States Population Growth

Between

1990 and 2000 - U.S. Population

grew by 32.7 million people, representing the
largest census-to-census increase in U.S.
History.
U.S. Population is expected to reach more than
400 million by 2050.

Structural-Functionalist
Perspective
Emphasizes

the interdependence between

human beings and the natural environment.
Focuses on how changes in one aspect of the
social system affect other aspects of society.

Conflict Perspective
Focuses

on how wealth and power affect

population and environmental problems.
Population growth results from poverty and
subordinate position of women in less
developed countries.
Wealth, power, and the pursuit of profit underlie
many environmental problems.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Focuses

on how meanings, labels, and

definitions affect population and environmental
problems.
Women in pronatalistic societies learn that
control of fertility is socially unacceptable.
Once they learn new definitions of fertility,
they can influence behaviors of others.

Global Food Requirements

In

1950, 20% of worlds population was

malnourished.
In the late 1990s, one-half of the worlds
population suffered from malnutrition.

Water Shortages
Water

use has tripled since 1950.

In U.S., per capita water consumption is about
185 gallons.
40% of the world population faces water
shortages at some time during the year.
33 countries are expected to have chronic
water shortages by 2025.

Slowing Population Growth:

Improve the Status of Women
Status

of women throughout developing world

is restricted to wife and mother.
Educated women are more likely to use
contraception, and to limit their children.
High levels of female labor force participation
and higher wages for women are associated
with smaller family size.

Air Pollution
Air

pollution levels highest in areas with heavy

industry and traffic congestion.
In mid-1990s, breathing the air in Mexico City
was like smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
Indoor pollutants include carpet, mattresses,
dry-cleaned clothes, paints, varnishes,
potpourri, mothballs, air fresheners,
fragrances.

Destruction of the Ozone Layer

Allows

hazardous levels of ultraviolet rays to

reach the earth's surface.
Largest ozone hole is over Antarctica and
spans 11.5 million square miles.
Previously, ozone hole exposed only ocean
and barren land; now it exposes Puntas
Arenas, Chile.

Effects of Global Warming:

As

temperature increases, some regions will

experience more rain and others will get drier.
Shifts in plant and animal habitats - extinction
of some species.
Melting of glaciers and permafrost, resulting in
rise in sea level.

Nuclear Waste
Radioactive

waste from nuclear power plants

and weapons production is associated with
cancer and genetic defects.
Radioactive plutonium, used in nuclear power
and weapons production, has a half-life of
24,000 years.
Disposal of nuclear waste is risky and costly,

Computers and the Environment

14%

of used computers are recycled or

donated.
Most discarded computers end up in landfills,
where toxic materials leach into soil and
groundwater.
Toxic components include lead, cadmium,
barium, mercury, flame retardants, PCBs, and
polyvinyl chloride.

Water Pollution
40%

of all U.S. waters are not fishable or

swimmable.
Water is polluted by pesticides, industrial
waste, acid rain, oil spills, and feces.
In 1998, more than 8,000 oil spills occurred in
or around U.S. waters.

Threats to Biodiversity
Primary

cause of species decline is humaninduced habitat destruction

Estimates suggest that at least 1,000 species
of life are lost each year.