Final Abstract

"For the U.S. to survive, the country will need to strictly reduce 1/3 of its population in order to be considered sustainable and avoid disasters."

The aim of this study was to discover the issues attributed to overpopulation and the associated problem of over consumption of oil, energy, food and unnecessary items. With all these concepts, I have found that it is necessary for us to drastically change our ways, although many are afraid to change our customs we are going to have to adjust quick.

Oil, is an over consumed resource that produces lots of energy all over the world. U.S. demand for oil has increased at a rate of 2% yearly (Churchill 2000). By year of 2020, peak oil will decrease and will cause a decrease in cars by 2050 (Strahan 2009). As many have seen, oil has lead the way for U.S. citizens to prosper for years, but yet we haven’t measured the future costs.

Food consumption is another issue we all need to be aware of and regulate. It is a worldwide issue and is highly driven by young kids and teens. For instance, the “Perfect Burger” contains days off CO2 emissions that derive from grain fertilization, to beef-feeding, to beef-transport and lastly to the consumer.

Material consumption should be controlled to an extent of purchasing necessary goods in contrast of consuming insane amounts of unnecessary material with credit. Material over consumption always ends up with hidden costs that are paid later by the health of our environment.

The fact that the population has expanded exponentially and consumption has become such a way of life. The human carrying capacity can’t truly be estimated. Sustainability is the key to our continued survived and the health of our planet. Therefore to ever be in a sustainable state, something has to happen in order for a change.