Human Population as a Driver to Climate Change. Conflict between Human Population Growth and Climate Change in Developing Countries

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2021 in the subject Nature Protection, Landscape Conservation, grade: 2.0, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, course: Sustainable Development Management, language: English, abstract: This paper deals with the impact of the growth of human population on climate change. After an introduction the impact of climate change will be discussed. The cost of climate change and the energy the human population is consuming is analysed. Furthermore, the human population as a driver to climate change will be evaluated.

Our world is overpopulated, and we are struggling to feed everyone and fulfil each individual's needs. The poverty and hunger in developing countries are rising, and in the same environment, we are witnessing an increase in the population. We have 80 million births each year, with an anticipated 9.7 billion people by 2050. These are not just simple numbers; they need a decent place to live, access to water, food security, clean air, and sustainable cities with affordable energy.

Global warming can be seen as flood, drought, ice melt, disease, food insecurity, and other natural disasters. It is found that climate change can displace 143 million people by 2050, and there will be conflicts between nations over natural resources. In today's world, we still have inequality between developed and least developed countries in various sectors and levels. A transformation to reduce climate change effects can create over 65 million jobs, but failing to cope with climate change can result in losing 80 million jobs by 2030. In terms of the economy, the climate change catastrophe cost us US$ 165 billion globally in 2019.

Forests are vital players in reducing CO2 emissions, but the desertification of forests by humans includes 23 % of carbon emission. The transformation from fossil fuels to green energy can bring us US$ 52 trillion in a year. Also, biodiversity has a significant contribution to our ecosystem, and their preservation must be part of our responsibility. To have proper nutrition, drinking water, decent economic growth, sustainable cities, and several other human-friendly concepts in our world, we are required to control our population growth. This can happen by educating girls about contraception methods, family planning, preventing child marriages, and removing traditional and cultural barriers.