The growing risk of overpopulation in Virginia has been cause for concern for years. Now, a dense population coupled with high gas prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina has some officials taking our population size more seriously than ever before.
“There are too many people,” said Dean Broga, director for VCU’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety. “The biggest problem is that there … will not be enough energy resources in the long run. That will cause all kinds of environmental complications and problems in the future … and we’re not doing a whole lot about that.”
Tim Robinson, an economist at the U.S. Census Bureau in Charlottesville, Va., said Virginia’s population is predicted to increase to about one million people by 2030, nearly doubling the population projections in 1999. Robinson said this increase may cause difficulties for Virginia’s environment.
Potential problems may include overcrowding of schools and transportation systems, air pollution, deforestation, erosion, loss of food, productivity problems and population starvation.
Emily Swinson, student coordinator for VCU’s Department of Environmental Conservation, urges people to help find a solution to environmental problems.
“Recycling is such an important thing for our world,” she said. “With the overpopulation and resources running out, we should do whatever we can to try and conserve things.”
Broga said that two contributing factors to the population problem are a lack of environmental awareness among the community and our rapid pace of industrialization.
“There (are) only 45 years of natural gas left in the world,” Broga said. “Why are we building facilities that burn natural gas today? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Now oil prices are skyrocketing and it’s only going to get worse.”
As of Wednesday morning, the national average for regular self-serve gas was $3.04 per gallon, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. In Richmond, the average price for regular self-serve gas was $3.12 per gallon, though prices at some local gas stations exceed the average.
Fuel prices rose nearly $1 at some local stations following complications from Hurricane Katrina. The increase has deterred some people from driving.
Although some people may feel that overpopulation is a serious problem for Virginia, Robinson said there is no need to panic.
“It’s incorrect to say overpopulated,” Robinson said. “Certain areas in Virginia are densely populated and that does present problems. But that’s because of migration, not because of high birth rates. Certainly more population puts more strain on resources. But it will mostly affect … transportation systems. But other than that, I don’t think Virginia has anything to worry about.”
Clifford Fox, interim assistant director for the Center for Environmental Studies, said, “Ultimately it’s about us, the people who are doing these things on a day-to-day basis. We’ve got to recognize our individual responsibility.”