STRAYER UNIVERSITY SOC 450
Assignment 1: Analysis of the Effects of Population Growth
Due Week 4 and worth 110 points

Imagine you have been hired as a consultant for the United Nations. You have been asked to write an analysis of how global population growth has caused the following problem and how it affects climate change or population growth in a developing country of your choosing:
A growing global population that consumes natural resources is partially to blame for the release of greenhouse gases since human consumption patterns lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and farming (overturned dirt releases CO2). However, the critical issue is the burning of fossil fuels (hydrocarbons) such as coal, oil, and natural gas to produce energy that is used for things such as electricity production, and vehicle, heating, and cooking fuels.
The UN has asked that you choose a developing country from this list: https://www.mrs.org/developing-countries-list.
The UN has also given you the following guidelines.
Content
The UN has asked that your paper contain three sections. It has asked that each section be one page (or approximately 300 words) in length and answer specific questions, identified in the outline below. It also asks that you use examples from your developing country when answering the questions.
Introduction
Provide an introduction (a half-page minimum) that addresses points a–e below.
a. Explains the problem the UN has asked you to address in your own words;

b. Identifies the three sections your paper will cover;
c. Identifies the developing country you will consider;
d. Tells the UN which causes of greenhouse gases you will explore; and
e. Provides a one-sentence statement of your solutions at the end of your introduction paragraph.
Section I. Background
a. What are greenhouse gases?
b. How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?
Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World
a. Which countries produce the most greenhouse gases?
b. What are the economic challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)?
c. What are the security challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)?
d. What are the political challenges of these emissions (include examples from your chosen country)?
Section III. Causes of Greenhouse Gases and Solutions to the Problems Greenhouse Gases Cause
a. Name two causes of greenhouse gases.
b. What are potential solutions to address each of the causes you identified?
c. What is the relationship between population control and greenhouse gas emissions?
Conclusion
• Provide a conclusion (a half-page minimum) that includes a summary of your findings that the United Nations can use to inform future policy decisions.
Success Tips
• In answering each question, use examples from your developing country to illustrate your points.
• The UN needs facts and objective analysis on which to base future policy decisions; avoid personal opinion and make sure your answers are based on information you find through research.
Formatting Requirements
• Make sure your paper consists of four to six pages (re: 1,200 words minimum, not including the cover page, reference page, and quoted material [if any]).
• Create headings for each section of your paper as follows:
o Section I. Background
o Section II. How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World
o Section III. Causes of Greenhouse Gases and Solutions to the Problems Greenhouse Gases Cause
• Use and cite at least five credible sources in your research. A list of potential resources is available below.
• Make sure your paper contains both in-text citations and a source list, per SWS guidelines: Refer to the Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) document for reference.
• Include a cover page with your name, the country you selected, the date you submitted the paper, and your instructor’s name.
• NOTE! Please include your SafeAssign score on the Cover/Title page of the final draft of your paper. Each student should have access to the SA Score Report before submitting paper for grading.

Potential Sources
1. George Gitlitz. June 19, 2018. Opinion: The Pernicious Climate Dictum – Don’t Mention Population. https://www.berkeleyside.com/2018/06/19/opinion-the-pernicious-climate-dictum-dont-mention-population
2. Gemma Tarlach. July 19, 2018. Mass Extinctions. http://discovermagazine.com/2018/jul-aug/mass-extinctions
3. Larry LeDoux. 2018. Does Population Growth Impact Climate Change? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/population-growth-climate-change/
4. Bill McKibben. November 22, 2018. A Very Grim Forecast. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/22/global-warming-very-grim-forecast/

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is as follows:

• Evaluate the impacts of population growth and its negative impacts on global societies while considering multiple perspectives.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric:
Points: 110 Assignment 1: Analysis of the Effects of Population Growth
Criteria Exemplary
90–100% A Proficient
80–89% B Fair
70–79% C Meets Minimum Expectations
60–69% D Unacceptable
Below 60% F
1. Defined greenhouse gases and their connection to global warming.

Weight: 20% Exceeded expectations in explaining the connection between greenhouse gases and global warming. Proficiently explained the connection between greenhouse gases and global warming. Defined greenhouse gases and global warming but did not fully explain the connection between the two. Defined greenhouse gases and global warming but did not sufficiently explain the connection between the two. Did not define or connect greenhouse gases and global warming.
2. Explained economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world. Listed the major offenders.

Weight: 20% Exceeded expectations in explaining economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world. Proficiently explained economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world. Explained the economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world. Did not sufficiently explain economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world. Did not explain economic, security, political, and other challenges that emissions pose to the people of the developing world.

ANSWER

Analysis of the Effects of Population Growth: INDIA

Introduction

Developing countries are described as countries with high dependency levels, low per capita income, and high population growth rates. This paper focuses on the latter feature, including high population growth rates in the analysis of global warming and environmental impacts. Population growth is a significant contributing factor for global warming due to the increased consumption pressures resulting from continuous population growth in developing countries (LeDoux, 2009). The paper uses India as the focal point of this analysis, one of the countries with the highest population of about 1.366B people (2^nd largest globally), a growth rate of 0.99%, and third global emitter of GHGs as of 2019 (Timperley, 2019). For an in-depth analysis and comprehensive discussion, the paper is divided into three main sections; the first section involves a detailed background on greenhouses gases and their relation to global warming. The second section explains problems associated with increased greenhouse emissions in India. The third section outlines climate change policies developed in India in the prevention, reduction, and intervention of the menace. The paper discusses industrial processes, energy issues, presence of high waste levels, and changes in land-use and forestry as the primary causes of GHG emissions. Solutions discussed include increased climate change finance initiatives, development of mitigation strategies and policies in effective waste management, energy, land-use and forestry, and carbon print maintenance (Das & Chandra, 2016).

Section I: Background 

• They are gases and particulate matter in the atmosphere capable of trapping or absorbing infrared radiation and heat and then re-radiating it back into the earth’s surface, resulting in a greenhouse effect.
• The greenhouse effect causes the warming up of the earth’s atmosphere, as explained, through which a gradual increase in these temperatures results in global warming. As the levels of gases and particulate matter increases in the air, so do the temperatures.

Section II: How Emissions Causes Problems for the Developing World

• USA, China, India
• Low production due to minimized labor caused by health effects, decreased agricultural production, affecting productive assets of trade, increased poverty among people dependent on agriculture, and reduced trading products (WB, 2013).
• Development of intra and inter-state climate-related conflicts, diminished abilities for survival among Indian’s due to deaths and destruction of property (Bisht, 2012)
• Food security, energy security
• Changes in policy, re-allocation, and budgeting

Section III: Causes of Greenhouse Gases and Solutions to the Problems Greenhouse Gases Cause

• Industrial processes, energy, presence of high waste levels, and changes in land-use and forestry as the primary causes of GHG emissions.
• Climate change finance initiatives, mitigation strategies, and policies in effective waste management, energy, land-use and forestry, and carbon print maintenance.
• Population growth is a significant contributing factor for global warming due to the increased consumption pressures resulting from continuous population growth in developing countries.

Conclusion 

India is one of the most affected developing countries by GHGs, global warming, and climate change. Moreover, it inhabits the second largest population globally, which plays a vital role in GHGs emissions. Primary causes of GHGs are sourced from industrial processes, energy, presence of high waste levels, and changes in land-use and forestry. Solutions include increased climate change finance initiatives, mitigation strategies, and policies in effective waste management, energy, land-use and forestry, and carbon print maintenance.

References

Bisht, T. (2012). Energy Security and Climate Change Challenges: India’s Dilemma and Policy Responses. In S. J. Anceschi L., Energy Security in the Era of Climate Change. Energy, Climate and the Environment Series (pp. 111-125). London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Das, & Chandra, R. (2016). Handbook of Research on Global Indicators of Economic and Political Convergence. New York: IGI Global.

LeDoux, L. (2009, July 29). Does Population Growth Impact Climate Change? Retrieved from THE SCIENCES: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/population-growth-climate-change/

Timperley, J. (2019, March 14). The Carbon Brief Profile: India. Retrieved from Carbon Brief: https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-india

1. (2013, June 19). India: Climate Change Impacts. Retrieved from The World Bank: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts