The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022. In response, UNFPA Executive Director Kanem said that 8 billion people is a "major milestone" for humanity.
It took millions of years for humanity to reach a world population of one billion by the early 19th century. Since then, the time it took for the world population to grow by a billion has continued to shorten: it exceeded 2 billion in the 1920s, 3 billion in 1960, 7 billion in 2011, and 8 billion 11 years later, a threefold increase between the centuries.
The total world population is still on the rise. According to the United Nations, the world's population is projected to reach a staggering 9.7 billion by 2050, very close to breaking 10 billion.
The potential impact of overpopulation is huge for us, because it means more people are competing for fewer resources. So what are the hidden effects of continued population growth?
- Respiratory diseases
A growing population means that we will inevitably produce more exhaust fumes, air pollution will increase, and it will end up with more respiratory diseases and more people with asthma. - Skin diseases
Rapid population growth leads to worsening air pollution, which also causes damage to the earth's ozone layer. The ozone layer no longer protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays and sunscreen and protective sun gear is very important. Because of this, people will begin to see their skin age faster and some may even develop skin cancer. - More natural disasters
Many people will ask, what is the relationship between overpopulation and natural disasters? Actually, the relationship is quite strong. The more carbon dioxide in the environment, the greater the likelihood of a major natural disaster such as a hurricane. Researchers note that in India, "overpopulation is making the country vulnerable to natural disasters such as tsunamis." With less of an ozone layer to regulate the earth's temperature, Mother Nature will continue trying to counteract. - Plant and animal extinction
In the future, If overcrowded cities expand to accommodate more people, many of them will be forced to flock to previously untouched areas. The National Wildlife Federation estimates that such expansion would lead to the extinction of up to one-third of the world's plant and animal species.
To summarize, the growing population is not only compressing our living space, but is also having a serious impact on the natural environment. We have to do more to help mitigate these changes and restore the Earth to it's natural state.
How We Can Help Sustain the Planet?
Continue to grow more plants
Sellers and hobbyists can propagate more plants and care for the plants they already have.
Benefits of growing and maintaining plants indoors and outdoors：
- Plants produce low amounts of oxygen and improve air quality over time
- Plants bring oxygen to the atmosphere's surface
- Plants provide energy and food sources for all life on Earth
- Plants participate in soil formation and create habitats for all living things
- Plants are an important link in the natural material cycle we need to sustain the planet
There are various material cycles in nature in which green and non-green plants play an important role. Including the carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle, water cycle, etc., the cycle of various elements in nature is inseparable from the participation of plants. - Plants are the close friends of human beings
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Consume responsibly
- Purchase from eco-friendly, environmentally responsible brands
By buying what we need from brands that are doing their part to be carbon- neutral or carbon negative, you can decrease your consumption footprint.
In short, the earth cannot be disconnected from plants, human beings need plants, and to protect plants is to protect human beings themselves.
Palmstreet has launched the "Grow 8 Billion Plants" campaign, let's join worldwide gardeners on Palmstreet app and reach your goal to protect Mother Earth!
