Overpopulation: The root cause of global warming?

Question

We keep saying that overpopulation is the cause of global warming. But all our remedial measures are aimed at cutting down carbon emissions, saving energy, reducing fossil fuel consumption, etc. None of the governments are really serious about family planning measures. Is it that we are afraid to confront overpopulation, the root cause face to face? Give your opinion.

Answer 1

Well China has seriously tried to handle overpopulation....

Answer 2

For sure this is the root problem. More people means more cars, factories, C02 emissions in general, more sophisticated technologies that pollute in their own way. The mass majority of people don't ever want to go back to the ways of self-efficiency. The Amish have stayed this way and they pollute little to nothing. Today's society doesn't want to be Amish. We are going to keep doing what we are doing and it will increase global warming exponentially unless we control the global population AND find alternative energy solutions. There are many fictitious books that suggest ways in dealing with overpopulation like outlawing having more than one or two children or forbidding certain types of people to reproduce at all. Life imitates art. This might happen. Even if the whole world adopts alternative energy solutions (which will not happen anytime in the next 50 years or more because many societies simply cannot afford to make the transition and maintain upkeep of these technologies) there will still be pollutants going into the air, although in greatly diminished amounts. So if we only address the fossil fuel energy problem and not overpopulation, global warming will slow down but it will not stop.

Answer 3

Global Warming IS A SCAM - TO MAKE MONEY. There is a new scheme managed by the UN (hmm) Carbon Cap and Trade. Some companies are banking on this Carbon Trading Vehicle. They are trying to make a market out of thin are requiring payment to market participants to do business. Obviously the business that buy these Carbon Credits will ultimately Charge YOU. THIS IS A HUGE TAX to PAY CORPORATIONS, and GOVERNMENTS. Global Warming is just the vehicle - it is not real, but an exaggerated illusion. Over population - is more of a threat than Global Warming. Only to the extent that competition for resources will be greater. What does it matter to me how many people live in China? However - there have always been plauges- they have a tendency to reduce population. Humans are not that smart - just yet.

Answer 4

Well, indirectly. Not overpopulation (if we lived like pioneers we wouldn't waste so much energy) but industrialization. There are little things we can do to conserve energy & I suppose if people didn't keep having kids then there wouldn't be more people to drive SUV's & leave all their lights on & work in industries that spew pollution into the environment...

I guess I'm doing my part. I drive a small fuel efficient vehicle. I have energy saving appliances & I'm very conservative with my hydro. Plus I don't plan to ever have children (not because of global warming just because I don't see me as a Mom, too enormous a responsibility. I'd rather write songs & paint pictures. People should only have kids if they're 100% sure. It's a lifelong commitment. More so than marriage -- yeah I haven't done that either!) Family planning (birth control) would be great as long as it doesn't go too far (abortion, infanticide etc). There have been atrocities committed against babies in countries where they instituted strict population control. Human life is still precious & must be preserved. But if people would practice safe sex then at least there would be no unwanted pregnancies. People have to be really sure they're having a child for the right reasons: the only valid reason is that you & your partner love each other so much that you want to bring a child into the world to share that love. How often is this the case, realistically?

Cheers!
:)
We can each do little things to help. Turn off your lights & walk to work & practice safe sex!

Answer 5

You see, over population cannot be alone held responsible for Global Warming. The industries, factories and all sorts of pollution made by people all around the world are really what responsible.

Global Warming should happen naturally and slowly. It is a process of nature. But due to the pollution we humans have caused to this planet, it is rapidly increasing in a faster rate.

Over population is meaningless until we know how much people are polluting the Earth. if the people stop wasting resources and polluting, then there won't be any Global Warming.

Answer 6

While I hate to over-simplify, I think we are justified in tracing many of our problems to our excessive numbers AND to the desire most of us have to conspicuously consume far beyond out real needs, with tremendous environmental consequences including predictable global warming. I think you are right: over-population is a major cause or contributing factor, arguably the root cause, not only of global warming, but of other evils, and we are not really addressing it. People resist being controlled in this area, even in China, the only place where government enforces restrictions in family size. Their policies in this regard are controversial throughout the world (to say the least!) Volunteer family planning is necessary, and there aren't enough volunteers so far to get the population to a zero-growth or negative-growth level. We all know the problem, but not enough will assume the responsibility of reducing family size, so the folly of over-population continues.

Answer 7

You asked whether we are afraid to confront overpopulation. My answer to this is yes, definitely. And why? Because to do so flies in the face of certain 'traditional' religious beliefs and instructions (e.g., to 'go forth and multiply.')

We are afraid to control population because we are so wrapped up in outdated, unreasonable religious beliefs. For some reason we refuse to let go of this belief even though it no longer serves and instead, in fact, harms us. Humankind at one time *needed* to focus on procreation, but it does not need to anymore.

Interestingly, then, one might argue that certain religions are the 'root' cause of global warming. That is, refusal to control population comes from attachment to outdated religious instructions; therefore, ultimately, outdated religious beliefs are the root cause of overpopulation. So, if you believe that overpopulation is the root cause of global warming, then by implication outdated religious beliefs are the cause of global warming.

I'm ready for my thumbs-downs, Mr. DeMille. :)

Answer 8

If global warming is influenced by human activity, it would be mostly because of carbon dioxide emissions.

The leading emitter of carbon dioxide is America. By itself, it produces approximately 23% of all human carbon dioxide emissions... about a quarter more than even the second-place emitter. (link 1) Populationwise, America contains only about 4% of the worlds' population (links 2 and 3).

Thus your argument that it has anything to do with population is erroneous. Unless by overpopulation, you meant overpopulation of AMERICA...

Answer 9

The powers that be are not eager to compromise for, what I imagine, economical reasons.

To make an omelete, you must break a few eggs, but which eggs (measures implemented towards the solution) should you break to make the best omelete (the best choice for the planet)? That is the question. Do the powers that be already know what eggs are good, but just not willing?

Answer 10

Only stupid people are breeding, and that's a bad thing. It's sad really, that brilliant people don't have time to have children that would undoubtedly be smart and idiot rednecks have multiple children!
Until everyone in the world can make an effort to cut down on their part of pollution nothing will change. The government can TELL people to take care of the environment all they want but we aren't going to pay attention as a whole until something bad happens and its too late.. .call it ignorance or whatever you like but it's the truth.
There are not enough people who care about mother earth and they need a kick in the @ss!
It is, unfortunately, unconstitutional for the govt to tell us how many children we can and cannot have. I personally think you should have to take classes before you can get married and breed... but that's just me