How did we get here? And where are we heading?
Every two years, the United Nations makes projections for future population growth. Its latest medium projection – the most likely scenario – is a population of 9.7bn in 2050 and 10.4bn in 2100. Because many factors affect population growth, it makes a range of projections depending on different assumptions. Within its 95% certainty range, the difference in population in 2100 from the highest to lowest projection is 3.5 billion people – almost half the population we have today.
World Population Day, celebrated on July 11 each year, serves as a cosmic reminder to pause and reflect on the vastness of humanity. It's a day when we collectively ponder, "How many of us can fit on this planet?" It's fascinating to think about how our global population impacts everything from resources to the environment.
Let’s unravel this global celebration, shall we?
The Origins: That's a fascinating piece of history! It's amazing how such milestones can bring global awareness to important issues. World Population Day, celebrated every July 11, helps highlight the challenges and opportunities of population growth. Do you have any particular interest in population studies or global events?
Fun Fact: Let’s time-travel through population milestones:
1804: We hit our first billion. 🎈
1927: Doubled up to two billion. 🎉
1960: High-fived our way to three billion. 🙌
1989: The UN declared July 11 as World Population Day. 🌟
2000: Six billion—like a cosmic jackpot! 💸
2017: The world’s population clocked in at a whopping 7.5 billion. 🕰️
2024: We are already at 8.12 billion and counting.
Why It Matters: Overpopulation is indeed a significant challenge. As our planet's population grows, the strain on resources like food, water, and energy becomes more intense, leading to ecological degradation and increased conflicts. This growth also amplifies social issues such as human trafficking and child labour. Addressing overpopulation involves critical discussions around maternal health, family planning, and gender equality to ensure sustainable development and a better quality of life for all.
With the constant increase in population, we are replacing nature and wild from 99% 10,000 years ago to about 1% now.
If we want to provide sustainable and renewable energy to all, we will need an equivalent of 1.7 earths, with all the natural resources.
The below graph shows how with increasing population, we are increasing CO2 emissions, consuming more freshwater, consuming more fertilizer, capturing more marine fish and losing tropical forest.
If young people across the world take the necessary precautions and consciously decide to decelerate the growth of the population, we might be able to achieve a better future for Mother Earth.
The dotted lines on the graph above show the UN’s projected population if, on average, every other family had one fewer child or one more child than in the median projection (‘low fertility and “high fertility” scenarios).
This shows the enormous difference in total numbers that arise from just very small variations in family size. If we can achieve that modest reduction in number of children born, we will have more than 3bn people fewer by 2100 – a lower population than we have today.
On World Population Day, let's celebrate our global family's incredible diversity and unity. Whether enjoying a cup of chai in Mumbai, savouring tacos in Mexico City, or gazing at the stars in Seattle, we're all part of this amazing journey together. Here's to the eight billion-plus souls making this world a vibrant and beautiful place! 🥂
Hope this article made you think about the issue.
Do share your thoughts about the article. And share with your friends and family.
Credits for graphics and video: Population Matters I Every Choice Counts
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