Teachers Guide: Discussion Questions
Per Capita Annual Renewable Freshwater Availability, 1950, 1995, 2050 Water, in cubic meters
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Source: Population Action International, Sustaining Water, Erasing Scarcity.
- Why do countries vary so greatly in the availability of fresh water? Especially in places like Kenya and Jordan?
- The United States and Bangladesh have roughly the same amount of renewable fresh water, yet the amount of water available to each person in Bangladesh is almost twice the amount available to each U.S. citizen in 1995. Why might the rate of water availability be projected to fall more quickly in Bangladesh over the next 50 years?
Reading
- Outline some of the links between population and the environment.
- Describe how consumption patterns and population size may each contribute to environmental degradation.
- What are the implications of disparity between population size and energy production and consumption?
Data
- Examine environmental data available online from organizations like the World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) and look at how these variables compare with what is happening in your local region or state with data available from organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov).
- Compare environmental data with demographic indicators on the World Population Data Sheet. Create two choropleth maps for two comparable indicators.
Discussion
What are some important considerations to keep in mind when developing strategies or plans to ensure sustainable development?