If you are not aware that the rate of population increase has slowed significantly, then you can refer to some of the pages in this section. The red line on graph here may also help.
As you can see, although the rate of growth has dropped significantly, the global population does still continue to grow.
In reality it is very possible that the global population will actually eventually completely stop growing. The graph is accurate up to now, but speculative in the future. But even if growth does stop altogether, there is still a significant problem from an environmental perspective in terms of the number of people and not destroying the planet. The reduction in population growth is sufficient to complete disrupt our current society and economy, but insufficient to solve serious problems for the earth.
The Problem at Current Population Levels.
It may seem that we are managing to survive quite well right now, but consider what is happing to the species we share the earth with. Then there is the question of climate change. Beyond the loss of species, the oceans are being depleted of what have been food sources. There is even some question of security of feeding the current human population given what is happening to other species, but that is a complex question, worthy of its own chapter.
Why it gets even worse.
As noted, even though in the developed world population growth has basically stopped, there are still sufficient countries with a growing population to continue growth. These countries will continue to grow in population unless they also develop. But the ‘human footprint’ on the environment is multiples greater for people in developed countries. Currently we really only know how to survive with at the most around 2 billion people living a ‘developed’ life style.
Technology as the Answer?
We hope so, but it is a race. A race to improve sustainable living technology, as more of the world moves to a developed lifestyle and increases impact on the planet. And this needs to take place while also solving global climate change, and actually achieving a stable population. Furthermore, at the same time, the western world learns how to move to economic indicators and plans that work under the new dynamic of the ‘Information/Eco’ age. A big challenge.
