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- 1. Running head: POPULATION GROWTH1 POPULATION GROWTH2 Analysis of the Effects of Population Growth Name Institution Date Analysis of the Effects of Population GrowthIntroduction The global population growth rate has been increasing at a significant rate. Currently, it is estimated that the world has an annual 1.07% or an estimated 82 million people increase in population every year (Worldometers, 2019). These numbers are significantly high and they have caused several impacts to the environment today. The UN has requested a research on the impacts of the increasing global population on increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and how they affect developing nations. This paper focuses on Nigeria, a developing country in West Africa, whose greenhouse gas emissions have increased significantly because of its constantly increasing population (Climate Links, 2019). The research paper will include three main sections; an evaluation of the background of greenhouse gas emissions, how emissions cause problems for the developing world, and the causes and recommended solutions for greenhouse gas emissions. The paper focuses on increasing human activity and economic activities as leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria. Encouraging the use of renewable energy, using energy-efficient products, and planting trees have been recommended as the best solution for the
- 2. greenhouse gas issue affecting the world today. Background Greenhouse gases (GHG) are gases that emit and absorb radiant energy in the thermal infrared range. GHG have the ability to raise the temperature in the earth’s atmosphere through the greenhouse effect (Emanuel, 2018). The greenhouse effect is a process through which the GHG absorb radiation from the sun, thus, raising the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere to a level that is much higher than what would have been without the availability of these gases. It is estimated that the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere would be -18 °C as opposed to the current 15 °C (Blasing, 2016). The earth’s atmosphere has several GHGs including methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor. The natural greenhouse effect has been mainly beneficial on earth by making it warmer for the survival of living things. However, an increasing emission of GHG to the atmosphere is causing an increasing level of temperatures beyond natural levels causing a phenomenon that is commonly known as global warming (Schlesinger, 2017). Human activity has caused a significant increase in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane and Nitrous Oxide levels have also increased significantly over the years. Scientists estimate that an unprecedented increase in the levels of these gases is causing negative effects on the earth’s climate(Emanuel, 2018). There has been an observed global warming, characterized by abnormal increments in the average atmospheric temperature, since mid-20th century. The increasing greenhouse effect has mainly been a result of increasing human and economic activity. Industrialization and increasing energy-intensive actions by human beings is causing burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which increase the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide(Emanuel, 2018). Human action is causing an abnormally high level of greenhouse gases, which is causing negative changes on the climate. Therefore, there is a need to develop solutions to deal with the increasing GHG emissions.How Emissions Causes Problems for the
- 3. Developing World The level of GHG emissions varies between countries. Countries with high population levels tend to have the highest levels of GHG emissions. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists USA (UCSUSA) (2019), the five leading countries with the highest emissions of greenhouse gases include the United States, China, Russia, India, and Japan. Each of these countries has a relatively high population level, showing that emissions increase with increase in population. Increasing GHG emissions are causing significant economic challenges, especially for developing economies. The responsibility of reducing the levels of greenhouse emissions is hurting the economic growth of many economies. In 1992 state parties committed themselves in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as the Kyoto Protocol, to reduce their respective greenhouse emissions as part of the effort to reduce global warming. Nigeria is one of the member countries committed to reducing its GHG emissions (Anwadike, 2017). Being a developing country, this commitment has caused several economic challenges. Nigeria is a country whose economy is largely dependent on fossil fuels considering that it is a producer of crude oil. An estimated 80% of export revenues for Nigeria comes from oil (Anwadike, 2017). Therefore, reducing its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions would significantly harm this economy that is already struggling to maintain steady growth. The security challenges associated with GHG emissions are seldom addressed, but they are a significant problem. Increasing GHG emissions are threatening different aspects of human security such as food production, water availability, and human health. Nigeria has already started experiencing the impacts of climate change caused by GHG emissions in its water and food security. The productivity of the country’s agricultural sector has reduced significantly because of the increasing temperatures causing a reduction of the amount of yield produced by farmers (Bello et al., 2012). With time, the problem could get worse and
- 4. threaten the country’s ability to feed its population. GHG emissions have also created unique political challenges. Climate change has become a topic of focus in political settings and has significantly impacted policies relating to different issues affecting the society. For the past two decades, global warming and climate change has been a topical issues driving Nigeria’s political climate. Different interpretations of the country’s responsibility in climate change action has been a cause of row affecting policies for a long time now (Ati, Abaje, & Agubamah, 2018). Politics on climate change are complex and the same politics are currently driving economic activity in the world. This is creating significant challenge for Nigeria to implement political actions that enhance its economic growth.Causes and Solution s of Greenhouse Gases Two leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions include increasing industrialization and human activity. Industrial development has caused a significant increase in the level of GHG emissions because most of the industries are energy intensive and use non-renewable sources of energy to conduct their operations. The continued development of the industrial sector will continue to increase the level of GHG emissions to the earth’s atmosphere (Dodman, 2009). Secondly, human activity that is not necessarily industrial is also contributing to GHG levels increase. The day-to-day decisions made by people increase the levels of emissions such as driving a car, cutting a
- 5. tree, or using energy intensive equipment at home. There are several solutions that can be explored as a way of reducing GHG emissions. First, it is important to develop and encourage the use of renewable energy sources. There are several non-GHG emitting energy sources that can be explored (Dodman, 2009). For instance, solar energy is an efficient and environmentally friendly sources of energy that should be used to reduce harmful emissions. GHG emissions can also reduce by encouraging the use of energy-efficient products. The little action that people take in their day-to-day lives makes a significant impact on the environment (Dodman, 2009). For example, the decision to use an electric car as opposed to a petrol or diesel car helps to eliminate carbon emissions. Lastly, people need to be encouraged totrees to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the environment. Trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the environment to reduce the damage that has been done through the high levels of emissions (Dodman, 2009). Most importantly, population control is an important step to reducing the level of GHG emissions in the world. An increasing population means increasing human and industrial activity, which increases emissions at a high rate (Stephenson, Newman, & Mayhew, 2010). Population control can help to minimize the level of activities that have been proven to be harmful to the environment. Therefore controlling population growth is a way of controlling GHG emissions.Conclusion
- 6. GHG emissions are a significant issue affecting the environment today. This problem has been connected to increasing global population levels. With increasing population, there is an increase in industrial and human activity that is causing more GHG emissions. The connection between GHG, global warming, and climate change has been a significant source of economic, political, and security issues for developing countries like Nigeria. GHG emissions have threated the political stability of Nigeria, reduced economic growth, and impacted food security through the impact on the climate. This research suggests three solutions as a way of dealing with the GHG emissions problem. It is recommended that people use renewable energy sources, reduce energy consumption by using energy efficient products, and plant more trees to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the environment. References Ati, O. F., Abaje, I.B., & Agubamah, E. (2018). Global Climate Change Policies and Politics: Nigeria’s Response. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329671120_Global_Cl imate_Change_Policies_and_Politics_Nigeria's_Response Bello, O. B., Ganiyu, O. T., Wahab, M. K. A., Afolabi, M. S., Oluleye, F., Mahmud, J., ... & Abdulmaliq, S. Y. (2012). Evidence of climate change impacts on agriculture and food
- 7. security in Nigeria. International Journal of agriculture and Forestry, 2(2), 49-55. Blasing, T. J. (2016). Recent greenhouse gas concentrations. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Climate Links (2019). Greenhouse Gas Emissions Factsheet: Nigeria. Retrieved from: https://www.climatelinks.org/resources/greenhouse-gas- emissions-factsheet-nigeria Emanuel, K. (2018). What we know about climate change. MIT Press. Schlesinger, M. E. (Ed.). (2017). Greenhouse-gas-induced climatic change: A critical appraisal of simulations and observations (Vol. 19). Elsevier. Stephenson, J., Newman, K., & Mayhew, S. (2010). Population dynamics and climate change: what are the links.Journal of Public Health, 32(2), 150-156. UCSUSA (2019). Each Country's Share of CO2 Emissions. Retrieved from: https://www.ucsusa.org/global- warming/science-and-impacts/science/each-countrys-share-of- co2.html Worldometers (2019). Current World Population. Retrieved from: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
- 8. Running head: POPULATION GROWTH 1 Analysis of the Effects of Population Growth Name Institution Date