The South Slough Reserve, where fresh water mixes with ocean water, includes 4,771 acres of protected land and waterways. Visitors travel through temperate rainforests freshwater swamps, salt marshes, eel grasses and mud flats. Its abundant wildlife includes crabs, herons, bald eagles fish, river otters, elk, beavers and oysters and more. With so much talk about global warming, I started wondering what will happen to the reserve as oceans rise and bring more salt inland, as deep water dredging builds channels for ships that cause oil slicks, as coal trains increasing in number sprinkle toxic dust as they travel, as businesses like Georgia-Pacific continue polluting even when fined, and as housing is built on adjacent lands?

It’s Complicated

I recently mentioned to a friend that I rarely hear people talk about overpopulation as they did in the 60s. His answer was, “Oh boy, that’s complicated.” Of course it is, but that doesn’t mean that the subject should be ignored. It seems obvious to me that population growth is a major cause of environmental degradation and global warming.

The young people I know seem more willing to tackle difficult topics than my friends. Thirty-year-olds say they don’t want to get married or have children because of society’s inability to deal with critical issues. They express concern for global warming, lack of health care, pollution, the high cost of housing, and an education system that leaves them in debt. Many tell me they work two jobs to make ends meet. I’ve also heard some say that don’t feel safe. They worry about armed shooters when attending concerts and shopping at malls. And, they express concern about school and church shootings.

Do you ever wonder if there are too many people for the earth to support? I do. I’ve been told that we have the ability feed and house everyone on earth. There should be no starvation. If this is so, then why aren’t we? Global warming is slowly changing where humans congregate around the globe. Those who live in coastal areas or in arid, hot climates are starting to seek shelter elsewhere. Unfortunately for them, environmental migrants are not welcome newcomers in most countries. High density cities become overburdened and unable to cope with demands for services, housing, and jobs. Cultural differences cause conflicts.

Understanding what is happening is not complicated. There is a wealth of factual information at our fingertips. Last month was the second warmest March (+2.23 degrees F) since records started to be kept 140 years ago. And, though we hear little about population growth, the world’s population as of last Sunday was 7,644,919,317. It is projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100 according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Population growth is not evenly distributed around the globe. Half the gain will occur in a small number of countries-India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Indonesia and surprisingly the United States. Countries in Europe and Japan with lower fertility rates are faced with problems caused by an aging population. 25% of the people alive today are over 60 with that number expected to reach 35% by 2050. Though the US birthrate is now 1.7.  Immigrants, the baby boomers, and better healthcare are the main reasons our population continues to expand.

Over one billion people around the globe go to bed hungry every day. Many live in arid countries where they can’t raise crops. Water scarcity forces them to go elsewhere. Rising sea levels (over 8 in. since 1880, 3 in. since 1993) also are making residents of South Pacific Islands to relocate. With more than 40 percent of the world’s population lives in high density coastal areas where infrastructure, oil and gas wells, power plants and water supplies are threatened, thousands of coastal residents will eventually be forced to move inland.

There’s no doubt that population growth accelerates global warming. More people mean greater demand for electricity, automobiles, heat and food that send Co2 and methane into the atmosphere. Food production that uses fertilizers and hormone fed animals adds problems to overburdened health systems.

I suggest that it’s time to talk about the two subjects-overpopulation and climate-in the same breath. We need to have practical discussions around around birth control and abortion. We need to consider where we will house people who will have to move because their land is inhabitable. Think for a moment about what will happen to thousands of people when Manhattan is under water. What about the Hawaiian Islands? the Everglades? Lawmakers in Hawaii, Florida, and Louisiana are already seeking millions of dollars for coastline protection from rising sea levels. 

The United States isn’t ready to deal with the millions of Americans who will have to relocate because of climate change. With a large influx of people, once habitable cities could easily become disaster zones too. Portland and Seattle are already seeing climate induced migrants and it is not a pretty site. Congestion and homelessness abound on our streets.

Let’s start using scientific information we have on hand and involve social scientists and city planners to discuss how we are going to handle the future. Too many people I know say, “The next generation is in trouble, but I can’t worry about. I’ll be dead before it happens or it’s God’s will.” Nonsense. We were born with brains. It is our responsibility to leave the world a better place than we were born into. Our cities and society will require restructuring. Let’s get going. Understanding the facts is not complicated. Knowing what to do about them, is. We need to talk.

References

United Nations Department of Economic and social Affairs, retrieved from web site https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html

Population Institute, Why Population Matters, Retrieved fromhttps://www.populationinstitute.org/resources/whypopulationmatters/

Nunez, C (2019) Sea level rise, explained. National Geographic. retrieved from  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/sea-level-rise/

Lindsey,R (2018) Climate Change: global Sea Level. Climate.gov. retrieved from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level

Jones, C. (2019) Hawaii lawmakers seek millions for coastline protection from rising sea levels. The Washington Times. retrieved from https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/apr/21/waikiki-beach-flooding-prompts-hawaii-seek-coastli/

Schultz,c. (2014) Climate Change Is already Causing Mass Human Migration. Smithsonian. retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/climate-change-already-causing-mass-human-migration-180949530/

Holdeman,E (2018) Global Warming and USA Migration. Government Technology. retrieved from https://www.govtech.com/em/emergency-blogs/disaster-zone/global-warming-and-usa-migration.html

South Slough National Estuarine research Reserve. Retrieved from website at https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/SS/Documents/South%20Slough%20508C%20Handout.pdf

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