How does population growth affect climate change?

Question

Clara Addison · Accepted Answer

While population increases, the pressure on recources increases too (such as forests, water, food, etc.)

The Global Climate Change is related to land use. There are forests emitting oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide. However, when human population increases significantly and consumption of resources increases, forests, water bodies, etc feel pressure. We need more fields (acres) to feed new population. We need more forest products to have furnitures in new houses, etc. And all these factors affect global climate change. IPAT equation (Impact #=PtimesAffluencetimesTechnology# (where P stands for population) shows there are three factors affecting environmental impact (I). If there is no changes observed in affluence and technology, under new population (lets say 8 units compared to the previous 6 units), the environmental impact will be 25% higher in the final situation. Reference: Masters, G. and Ela, W. P. (2008) Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science (3rd edition). Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.

Isaac Ayoub · Answer

undefined Population growth contributes to climate change by increasing the demand for resources, leading to higher energy consumption, deforestation, and intensified agricultural activities. The larger population produces more greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels and changes in land use, exacerbating the greenhouse effect and global warming. Additionally, increased population puts pressure on ecosystems, leading to habitat loss and biodiversity decline, further impacting the climate.