Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment

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City University of New York (CUNY) 
City University of New York (CUNY) 
CUNY Academic Works 
CUNY Academic Works 
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 
CUNY Graduate Center 
2-2017 
Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment 
Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment 
Doris Baus 
The Graduate Center, City University of New York 
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OVERPOPULATION AND THE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
by 
DORIS BAUS 
A master's thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Liberal Studies in partial fulfilment of the 
requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, The City University of New York 
2017 

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© 2017 
DORIS BAUS 
All Rights Reserved 

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Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment
by 
Doris Baus 
This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Liberal Studies in 
satisfaction of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts.
____________________ ____________________________________________ 
Date 
Sophia Perdikaris 
Thesis Advisor 
____________________ ___________________________________________ 
Date 
Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis 
Acting Executive Officer
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK 

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ABSTRACT 
Overpopulation and the Impact on the Environment 
by 
Doris Baus 
Advisor: Sophia Perdikaris 
In this research paper, the main focus is on the issue of overpopulation and its impact on the 
environment. The growing size of the global population is not an issue that appeared within the past 
couple of decades, but its origins come from the prehistoric time and extend to the very present day. 
Throughout the history, acknowledged scientists introduced the concept of “overpopulation” and 
predicted the future consequences if the world follows the same behavioral pattern. According to 
predictions, scientists invented the birth control pill and set population control through eugenics. 
Despite that, population continued to increase and fight with constant diseases. Migration was 
another component that encouraged population rise, which imposes severe threats to the 
environment. Urbanization destroys natural habitats and reinforces carbon dioxide emissions, which 
cause climate change and global warming. Species are becoming extinct and humanity is at threat 
that it set up for itself. Food scarcity and shortage of water as well as lack of job opportunities and 
inadequate education are the results of global inequality. Uneven distribution of natural resources, 
financial means, and individual rights give rise to poverty and define the global culture as greedy, 
despite the aid of international organizations and agencies. Solutions to overpopulation lie in the 
efforts of national institutions to implement policies that will correspond to the guidelines given by 

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international institutions that work for the best of the global community. Within this global 
network, individuals act in their best interest, leaving the rest in extreme poverty and shortage. The 
inequality supports issues that contribute to overpopulation and leads to a humanity’s extinction.