Environmental Science

Introduction:

Today's decisions will not only determine the options of tomorrow but also write the history of yesterday. We currently have far more knowledge of the world in which we live than did our forbearers. Therefore, we not only have greater opportunities than they did but also are confronted with greater responsibilities than they were because we are no longer an isolated continent but part of an interconnected global society, whether or not we fully understand the idea, whether or not we even like the idea (Zahnle, Schaefer and Fegley, 2010). If humanity is to survive this century and beyond with any semblance of dignity and well-being, we must both understand and accept that we have a single ecosystem composed of three spheres:  the atmosphere (air), lithosphere (the Earth's crust of rock and water), and the biosphere (all life, including us, sandwiched in the middle) (Zahnle, Schaefer and Fegley, 2010). And because this magnificent, living system, the earth, simultaneously produces, nourishes, and maintains all life, including us, we would be wise to honor it and care for it. If we do not, if we cause too much damage to any one of the "spheres," we will be the authors of our own demise-and that of all of the world's children into everlasting (Schopf, 1983).

But one thing that is affecting the way people live is the issue of increasing population growth. Population growth can be defined as the change in a population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals of any species in a population using "per unit time" for measurement. This is where terms such overpopulation and under-population come in. over population is defined as the aspect where the population exceeds the carrying capacity of an area or an environment which leads to congestion and pollution (Enns, 2010). Under-population is defined as the under utilization of an area despite its productivity and the available resources. Currently, we are...