Lesson Plans: Expansion of Population and Environment
Objective
The objective is to highlight the future population of the world in order to estimate its effect on the environment and on climate change.
Materials
Each group of students will need the following:
- Graph paper
- Pencil and pen
- Ruler
Important Points to Understand
When emission of greenhouse gases was discussed, methane was regarded as a major greenhouse gas that could trap more heat than carbon dioxide. Subsequently, livestock was also considered as a source of methane. If we carefully consider the expansion of the world's population, since this is quite dramatic, people may not be free from a charge similar to livestock for the release of gases into the atmosphere.
In addition, it is reasonable to believe that the growth of population will require extra land to be cleared for agriculture and the provision of food, husbandry of cattle, poultry, pigs etc., land for the provision of houses, and clearance for infrastructure. Past, present, and future populations of the world are given in the following table to have a feel on this issue.
| Year | Data Status | World Population (Millions) |
| 1650 | Estimated | 550 |
| 1750 | Estimated | 725 |
| 1850 | Probable | 1,175 |
| 1900 | Probable | 1,600 |
| 1950 | Probable | 2,564 |
| 1970 | Approximate | 3,700 |
| 1980 | Neat actual | 4,478 |
| 1990 | Neat actual | 5,300 |
| 1992 | Neat actual | 5,500 |
| 1993 | Neat actual | 5,576 |
| 1994 | Neat actual | 5,642 |
| 2000 | Forecast | 6,200 |
| 2025 | Forecast | 8,500 |
| 2100 | Forecast | 10,400 |
| 2200 | Forecast | 11,000 |
Procedure
- Carefully study the population data given in the table to realise the increase of global population. (You might have a second thought for your future family plan or marriage plan!).
- Plot the data on graph paper, time on the horizontal axis and population on the vertical axis.
- Write down your view and reasons first on this population issue based upon the graph and compare with others.
Questions
- What has happened in the local country in the life of the parents of the students in the last 5-10 years due to population?
- How much land has been cleared near your area?
- What changes have taken place which might involve some of the hazards described in the module (for car usage or other type of energy)?
- Write an essay (about 2 pages) on Impacts of Human Population on Climate Change.
