Posted By: J Geoff
7 Billion People - 10/31/11 06:12 PM
Today's the day we're supposed to reach a global population of 7 billion.
It took about 120,000 years to reach the first billion (estimated at 1805). In the late 1920's, the second billion. Thirty years later, the third billion. Fifteen years later, the fourth billion (1974). 1987, 5 billion. 1999, 6 billion. Any time now, 7 billion.
The world population has DOUBLED since the mid-60's
Crowded Planet: 7 (Billion) Population Milestones
By the end of the century we'll be at 10 billion people.
Some impacts of that are pretty scary:
5 Ways the World Will Change Radically This Century
Notably:
Shifting People - "In 1950, there were three times as many Europeans as sub-Saharan Africans. By 2100, there will be five sub-Saharan Africans for every European."
Urbanization - "The number of people living in cities will climb from 3.5 billion today to 6.3 billion by 2050"
Water Wars - "As the population grows, there is less water per person. Meanwhile, the gap between the rich and the poor widens, and the rich demand more resources to accommodate their lifestyles."
Future Energy - "Either some new, superior form of energy extraction (such as highly efficient solar panels) will be widespread, or the technology, or its implementation, will fail, and humanity will face a major energy crisis." [With the current money being made in fossil fuels, there is no real incentive to replace that source, which will run out in 100-200 years]
Mass Extinctions - "Some biologists believe that with the current rate of extinction, 75 percent of the planet's species will disappear within the next 300 to 2,000 years."
Pretty scary stuff. 7 billion. "...all that expansion means more mouths to feed, which requires more space and energy, which increases the demand on resources and the environment, perhaps too large a demand for Earth to support."
Should the world adopt a 'one-child' policy?
Probably not. But if there's going to be a future for our kids, the world governments need to start preparing NOW, not just talking about it and hoping it goes away.
I don't want to sound too bleak, though... there is some hope. Hopefully it'll be in time.
http://7billionactions.org/