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CT#: 1-9
Q#: 1-27
Word Count: 547
The Burden of Population Growth on Top of an Already Diminished Infrastructure
Interpretation (27 words):
According to population growth predictions, 21st century world population will increase drastically by 2050 increasing the demand for more resources as well as impacting old, ineffective infrastructure.
Analysis (433 words):
Population growth has slowly become an issue of concern, specifically when it comes to consumption of resources, use of the landscape, and the reliability of infrastructure. The United Nations (2004; Page 4) predicts a growth of up to 8.9 billion people in 2050, but new global estimates raise this number up to 11 billion for 2100. This rapid growth is then associated with population demands that exceed infrastructure and its service capacity (Asoka, Thuo, & Bunyasi, 2013; Page 41). It is important to visualize basic infrastructure as one comprised of not only buildings but also of those used for transportation, communication, waste management, water treatment, and energy production.
The availability of this infrastructure is not always found in all countries. Mainly because economic activities and population income plays an important role on access to reliable infrastructure. Unfortunately, most of the infrastructure available in what it's denominated first world countries or develop countries was either built with a preconception of not having an exponential growth in the future or by lacking the knowledge/resources to build and plan ahead instead of remaining in the past.
In Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean 75% of the population lives in cities versus 37% in Africa (Asoka et al., 2013; Page 41-42; Cohen, 2003; 1173). For correspondent authorities this data translates into the aspects of demand and supply, where the demand from the increasing population for the provision of effective housing,