Interactive Assignment

Density: The Earth's population has jumped from 2 million people to 6.3 million people since 1930. The highest populated countires being India, China, Indonesia, and central Europe.

Why isn't the United States one of the most populated?


Growth: By 2050, the total number of people expected to be on the Earth is 9 billion. However, in the developing countries that have large populations, their resources could decrease and not be able to reproduce fast enough to meet the demands of all the people that will be there.

Why don't we all join together as a community to better our planet by planting more trees and protecting our oceans and coral reefs? Would that be enough? Why or why not?


Cities: By 2030, 60% of the population will be living in cities compared to 37% 30 years ago; there are many pros and cons to living that lifestyle.

If all the of the population are becoming more urban, what impact will that have in rural areas?


Water: Out of the 70% of water that covers our planets, only 2.5 of it is freshwater, and that's vital to all human beings. Many countries are considered to be short of water. Even with new technology, the amount of plentiful freshwater may not be fully replaced.

If many countries don't have the amount of freshwater they need to survive, shouldn't the countries that have plenty of it help them out? How can they help?


Air: Pollution has risen 30% in the last 200 years as a result of an increase in harmful industrial fumes. The World has been producing more dangerous gases than the Earth can convert back into oxygen, which is an issue because all of us humans need air to survive.

If everybody is trying to be "Eco-friendly" now, why isn't there a way to eliminate the fumes that are hurtful and replace them with something better?


Climate: Climatologists blame air pollution and fossil fuel emissions for global warming. They predict that over the next 100 years, surface temperatures will increase up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit, causing a possible reduction of lakes and rivers, severe flooding, and the extinction of some plant and animal species.

If the temperature increase won't be for awhile, shouldn't we try to figure out how we might be able to stop the destruction of our resources and species?


Forests: Due to aggressive logging and agricultural clearing, a large portion of forests have been lost. 40% of forests are presently in danger when half of our land used to be covered with forests.

Do you think that the policy of replacing the number of trees a person(s) cuts down would apply here? Why or why not?


Land: The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization altered half of the land we use into four main uses.

What do you think the other half is being used for?


Habitats: Since the population keeps growing dramatically, habitats are being lost because our main source of food is animals. If this keeps up, our coral reefs and some other major habitats could disappear as soon as the next 20 years.

Would developing a way to protect the animals and plants while giving us the food we need be the only option to solve this problem?