If fertility rates continue at expected levels, the world’s population is likely to reach 10.1 billion in the next 90 years. Based on conservative estimates, the number of people in the world should pass 8 billion in 2023, 9 billion by 2041 and 10 billion at some point after 2081.
Ted TurnerJust take a moment to think about that. By 2100, we could have nearly 50% more people on this planet than we did at the beginning of the century, competing for the same food, water, space and attention.
This is thought provoking, as many of us have grown up taught not to think too much of the problems wrought by an expanding population – that we will always have enough food to eat, water to drink, security, etc. However, is there an upper limit from a climate / environmental / humanistic stand point? In every other population on earth there exists these swings of population.
I recently saw a documentary about the redevelopment of a section of Africa where there was a civil war, and almost totally erased the presence of Lions & HIppos. Consequently the catfish population skyrocketed, and they have almost driven out other species, having a ripple effect on the environment.
Humans inhabit the same envionment, and besides the social ramifications, there are other reasons to consider how we’re managing the resources that we have at our disposal.
