- Especially with increasing trends of consumption in developed countries, it will eventually be impossible to sustain food production to meet the increasing demand. Land available for agriculture or cattle grazing will continue to decrease, and all 17 major world fisheries are said to already be over-fished beyond a sustainable capacity, according to the study "Population Growth and Society," by Kate Kennedy and Mindy Cheng (http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/populationgrowth.htm).
- The harvesting of the Earth's forests causes land degradation and erosion. Land degradation can strip the soil of nutrients and limit it from further agriculture or grazing. Erosion leaves less land for food production, contributes to flooding, and can damage coral reefs.
- The supply of renewable fresh water per capita is decreasing at an unsustainable rate. Over-development, depletion of natural aquifers, and acid rain caused by air pollution are all contributing factors to a decreasing water supply.
- An increasing world population will not have access to electricity or other energy sources at current energy production and usage rates. The combustion of traditional energy sources such as coal, natural gas and oil contributes to air pollution and releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
- As development continues to encroach upon the natural habitats of indigenous plants and animals, many species are becoming extinct. This is damaging to ecosystems as a whole and can destroy potential nutritional resources.
Food Shortages
Deforestation
Water Shortages
Energy
Extinction
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