Population and Consumption

CALIFORNIA FACTS

Population is a pressing problem, especially at our level of consumption. When I was born, there were 20.6 million people in California. Now there are over 34 million. About half of this increase is from births outpacing deaths, the other half from migration. The year I was born, 313,000 others were born as well, 169,000 people died, and 95,000 more people arrived than left. In 1999, 525,000 people were born, 228,000 people died, and 297,000 more people arrived than left. This is not sustainable! Where will we put everybody? Last time I checked, no new land was being created in the ocean (except for a massive expansion of the Long Beach Harbor). Stop having so many kids! Future population projections are equally depressing. It seems like the only way we can stop this insane growth is to lower our level of economic activity. From 1993 to 1995, during the recession, more people left the state than arrived, and the birth rate has been declining until last year. Maybe a drought would help too. And building up instead of out will be necessary to save many natural areas.

Graphs: California Counties Population Density / % Increase / Rank / Area and Density

U.S. FACTS
from the ZPG Reporter:

U.S. is the third most populous country in the world after China and India. Pop = 276 million.
U.S. is growing by more than 2.4 million people each year--about 1% growth rate.
Americans constitute 5% of the worlds population, but consume nearly 25% of the worlds energy. Energy use of 1 American = 2.5 Japanese, 6.6 Mexicans, 16.5 Chinese, 33 Indians, 82.5 Vietnamese, or 121 Bangladeshis.
U.S. is responsible for 23% of the world's emissions of CO2.
25% of the world's 500 million cars are in the U.S. The number of U.S. vehicles is increasing at six times the rate of population growth.
The number of miles Americans drive each year doubled between 1970 and 1990.
Our developed land area more than doubled between 1960 and 1990. It continues to increase at the rate of 356 acres per hour.
And for a global perspective: Each day we squeeze another 1/4 million new people onto the planet.

Consequences

1/3 of U.S. plant species are threatened by extinction
Out of 961 endangered species, 369 are animals and 592 are plants.
Out of 273 threatened species, 129 are animals and 144 are plants.
40% of our rivers, lakes, and coastal waters are too polluted to support their designated uses
50% of our wetlands were gone by 1995 (in the lower 48). In the last ten years of this period, 79% were lost to agriculture and 6% to urban development.
Emissions from highway vehicles account for 60 million tons of CO2 and 50% of toxic air pollutants.

The U.S. Census bureau projects a population of 390 million by 2050. Do you think you can maintain your standard of living with over 100 million more neighbors (almost half of the increase in California alone)? Where will these people live, work, play, drive, and get their food and water? Haven't we stressed our country's productivity far enough? When is enough enough? When will we finally set limits? The time is now.