Dodson - Chapter 5

As Dodson explains in chapter five, China has “seven percent of the world’s arable land and nearly 20 percent of its population” (pg. 88). Naturally, China’s energy needs and use of natural resources are very high in order to sustain the population. It is still shocking, but it is to be expected. My question is, is it necessary? Of course China’s population is overwhelming, but wouldn’t it be reasonable to plan for shortages in energy and natural resources, to ration and use only what is needed? Because China has very high levels of deforestation, oil and iron consumption, poorly maintained irrigation systems, factory pollution and waste, natural resources are constantly being diminished. It is predicted that oil consumption in China will increase by 106 percent and China’s “middle class will have grown to nearly a billion people” by the year 2025 (pg.104-105). These issues are also easily applicable to the United States. Perhaps not to the same degree, but we also face a similar fate. The U.S. mostly receives its natural recourses from sources outside of the country. China’s increased consumption will affect the U.S. and other countries, and vice versa. China’s future may be a much more severe issue, however, because of its population and needs. One thing Dodson does not discuss is food, but perhaps China’s distribution and consumption is not as dangerously careless as it is in the U.S. Food could eventually prove to be an issue because of China’s quickly increasing population. It is an obvious cycle, but the larger the global consumption of natural resources becomes, the less will be available.