Horizon: the challenge of population growth

Posted by Bob on 10 December 2009 | 1 Comments

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There was a superb programme on last night, on the challenge of population growth for our survival as a species. It is viewable in full on BBC I-Player:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pdjmk/Horizon_20092010_How_Many_People_Can_Live_on_Planet_Earth/

It makes a strong case that stemming the rise in human population over the next 30 years, or somehow developing technologies that enhance food and water provision massively, are the biggest challenges facing humanity today. In the lifetime of the programme's presenter, David Attenborough, the human population has tripled. In the next 30 years it is predicted to increase by 3 billion. That is an increase of more than the current population of Europe, Africa and America combined. We are on the edge of a resources precipice, and it is time we opened our eyes.

Watch the programme if you have a spare hour.

 


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  • Currently we need at least TWO planets to sustain western living standards. Where I live in South Africa we emit a too high average of 8.96 tonnes of CO2 per annum per person. The USA 19.66 tonnes per person.

    When suggesting on local radio to a delegate to Copenhagen that he make reducing population a priority issue, I was told that I had no right to try to determine people's lifestyle and desire for children.

    So this unfortunately is the situation in the developing world. A lack of global understanding and a confused and ineffective determination of policy.

    http://www.breathingearth.net/ is an excellent site for an instant look at global statistics regarding population and carbon emission.

    Posted by Robert de Vos, 12/12/2009 5:59pm (2 years ago)

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