EVR1001C Midterm Exam Review

Overview of Population Control Policies

One Child Policy

• Implemented in 1979 by the Chinese government as a drastic measure to curb rapidly increasing population growth.

• Enforced through various means, including tax penalties for families who had more than one child and monetary rewards for those adhering to the policy.

• While the policy successfully controlled population growth, it led to significant demographic challenges:

  • Gender Imbalance: A preference for male children resulted in a skewed ratio of males to females, which has generated various societal issues, including an increase in trafficking and difficulty for men to find spouses.

  • Aging Population: A decreased birth rate has led to a higher proportion of elderly individuals, which poses challenges for social services and healthcare systems.

Current Population Trends

• The global human population has experienced a dramatic increase, doubling from approximately 2.5 billion in 1950 to over 7.9 billion in February 2021.

• China comprises about 20% of the world's population, while India has recently surpassed China as the most populous country, indicating a significant demographic shift.

• Together, China and India now account for approximately 40% of the global population, highlighting the concentration of human resources in these two nations.

Environmental Impact and Demographics

• IPEP Model: This model quantifies a country's environmental impact based on three variables:

  • Population: Larger populations generally correlate with increased resource consumption and waste production.

  • Affluence: Wealthier countries consume more resources per capita.

  • Technology: The technological means of resource extraction and consumption impact environmental sustainability.

• Age Structure Diagrams / Population Pyramids: These diagrams are essential for visualizing age distribution within populations and can indicate societal trends:

  • Stable Population: Balanced age distribution across various age groups exhibits stability.

  • Declining Population: A higher proportion of elderly individuals and a lower number of youth indicate societal aging (e.g., Japan).

  • Expanding Population: A larger base of the pyramid signifies a high birth rate and a larger young population (e.g., Nigeria).

Resource Demand and Sustainability

• Resource Demand: Increasing global demand for resources leads to heightened environmental degradation; current trends are increasingly unsustainable.

• Education of Women: Studies show that higher education levels in women are strongly associated with lower birth rates, especially in developing countries where reproductive choices are often limited.

• Developed vs. Developing Countries: Nations vary significantly in population growth trends:

  • Developed countries tend to see stabilized or even declining populations due to factors like higher living standards and lower fertility rates.

  • In contrast, developing countries experience the highest growth rates, leading to potential challenges related to resource allocation, healthcare, and education.

Agricultural Practices and Environmental Considerations

• History of Agriculture: Farming emerged approximately 10,000-12,000 years ago as societies transitioned from hunting and gathering to settled agricultural practices, radically changing human lifestyles and societal structures.

• Monoculture vs. Polyculture:

  • Monoculture: Cultivation of a single crop over extensive areas; often leads to soil depletion and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.

  • Polyculture: Involves growing multiple crops strategically, promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil health, and resilience against crop failures.

• Industrial Agriculture vs. Sustainable Agriculture:

  • Industrial agriculture focuses on maximizing yield through chemical inputs and intensive farming methods, resulting in soil degradation and necessitating frequent relocation of farmland.

  • Sustainable agriculture emphasizes organic practices, soil health, and biodiversity, successfully maintaining yields while minimizing environmental impacts.

Issues with Agricultural Practices

• Pesticides and Synthetic Fertilizers: Overreliance on chemical inputs contributes to ecological issues such as eutrophication, where nutrient runoff leads to algal blooms and dead zones in aquatic ecosystems.

• Pollinator Dependency: Pollinators are vital for approximately one-third of human food sources. Declining bee populations, exacerbated by the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, threaten food security; beekeepers now often transport hives for crop pollination.

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): The U.S. is the leading nation in acreage dedicated to GM crops, which sparks debates regarding their long-term health effects. The establishment of seed banks is crucial for preserving genetic diversity and mitigating the risks of monoculture.

• Resource Intensive Animal Farming:

  • Livestock: Beef production is notably resource-intensive, requiring significant feed and water, compared to less resource-intensive meats like pork and chicken.

  • Aquaculture: This method of raising fish can yield higher outputs than traditional fisheries but comes with environmental concerns, including waste production and disease transmission to wild fish populations.

Impact of Toxicants and Regulatory Policies

• Rachel Carson and Silent Spring: This groundbreaking work brought attention to pesticide toxicity and its detrimental effects on wildlife, such as eggshell thinning due to DDT. It was pivotal in sparking the modern environmental movement and catalyzing regulatory changes.

• Toxicants: Defined as harmful substances that can negatively affect human health and the environment; this category includes pesticides and various chemical pollutants.

• Regulations and Safety Standards:

  • The United States regulatory system traditionally operates under the 'innocent until proven guilty' principle, contrasting with the European Union's precautionary principle, which aims to address potential harms before chemicals are widely used.

  • The outdated Toxic Substance Control Act allows numerous chemicals to exist without adequate safety evaluations, raising concerns about public health and environmental safety.

Study Recommendations

• Focus on key terms and concepts outlined in the discussion to ensure a well-rounded understanding.

• Create a structured study schedule to cover materials thoroughly in preparation for exams.

• Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and sufficient rest leading up to the exam to optimize performance.

• Ensure to gather necessary materials, such as sharpened pencils, calculators, and textbooks, prior to examination day.