SPA Infosheet

Why is human population growth an environmental issue?

June 2001

All species on the planet compete for the land and resources they need for survival. For most species this is only food, water and a place to grow (plants) or shelter (animals). The places satisfying these needs are often referred to as the 'habitat' of that species.

Humans have been extremely successful in competing for habitat. We now dominate most of the earth's surface, particularly those parts that provide good living conditions. Most of the fertile, productive parts of the globe grow food for humans rather than other species. For example, Europe used to be home to many large animals such as deer and bears, but now the fertile areas where they lived have been turned into towns, cities, or fields for growing food for humans and the animals can no longer live there.

Wealthy humans such as Australians and Americans consume far more than just food. We inhabit towns and cities that provide living space only for humans. We use machines such as computers, cars, tractors and trains, all of which require mines and factories for their production. We use roads, schools, offices and hospitals. All these places are so modified that they provide habitat for virtually no other species. The waste from our activities threatens to poison much of the planet's air, soil and water.

The disappearance of habitat and the polluting of the planet are regarded as 'environmental problems'. Nearly all such problems are currently caused by humans and the more of us there are the harder these problems are to solve. Wealthy humans, because we consume so much, have the greatest environmental impact.

There are many things each of us can do to reduce our impact but too much reduction affects standard of living. The poorest people in the world have less environmental impact because they consume so little - no education, medical services, clean water, decent housing or reliable food supply.

The more humans there are, and the more each one consumes, the harder it becomes to solve our environmental problems. That is why human population growth is an environmental issue.