2.2 Consequences of Population Distribution

Carrying Capacity: the population a country can support without significant environmental deterioration. The UK's carrying capacity is heavily debated; some officials say their population should be reduced to 20 million, but other consultants claim this number is far too low. Despite their differing opinions, most experts suggest the UK should do everything in its power to prevent the population from exceeding 70 million. The graph to the right suggests that the UK will exceed a population of 70 million by 2030. This is concerning to many officials, as the rapid growth of the UK's population is becoming an issue.