Rapid population growth and Environmental degradation in Ethiopia: Challenges and Concerns

Having established link between human population and a degraded environment as well highlighting the effect a degraded environment on the human health, it be becomes necessary to suggest a way out so as to achieve a sustainable environment. Underlying every environmental problem is the issue of human population growth. Therefore, any attempt to solve this problem must start by addressing issue of rapid population growth in Ethiopia. This study hereby recommends that the simplest and one of the most effective means of controlling population growth in the country is to delay the age of first childbearing. Women should be encouraged to be educated; this will make the delay to occur naturally. As per solving the problem of environmental degradation, it is suggested that alternative source of energy should be developed to reduce the risk posed by use of hydrocarbon as fuel environmental education should be encouraged in school curricula. People need to be thought how to use the resources of the environment without causing damage to the environment. Environmental law which have been enacted should be thoroughly enforced through task forces. Also the multinational companies and other industries with tendencies to generate pollution should be forced to carry out environmental impact assessment and put in place mitigation measures before carrying out production.