Updated Abstract

300 Million Americans Have Significant Impact

By the 19th century, the world’s population had grown to one billion. Less than 250 years after, the world’s population has reached nearly seven billion. The United States, like much of the rest of the world, has increased its population size as well – however, this increase in population has created a high demand of energy and resources unlike any other major nation.

The population of the United States is relatively small when compared to developing nations with high populations such as India, China, and Mexico; however, the United States is a major consumer of much of the world’s natural resources to meet the demand put forth by its increasing amount of citizens.

My research analyzes and contrasts energy consumption rates and population growth in the United States. High and low end projections for the population size are used to predict the amount of electricity, petroleum, and coal that will be consumed in 2100. Comparisons between the consumption rates of both the United States and India in the past 50 years are made to emphasize the notion that it is generally the first-world, industrialized nations that are responsible for the world’s depleting resources. I also explore the idea of how contraceptives may help reduce the growing world population and, in doing so, also address other world issues.

"...the United States is a major consumer of much of the world’s natural resources to meet the demand put forth by its increasing amount of citizens."