All articles tagged with #overpopulation
The world's population has grown from 2 billion to 8 billion over the past century, but declining fertility rates suggest we may soon reach 'peak population,' potentially leading to significant societal and economic impacts, according to economists.
John Calhoun's "Universe 25" rodent utopia experiment, often cited as a prediction of human social decay, showed that overpopulation led to societal collapse among mice. However, modern scientists argue that these findings should not be directly applied to humans, as humans can cope with density differently. Calhoun's later work focused on finding solutions to avoid such collapse, influencing urban design and prison reform.
Humanity reached Earth Overshoot Day on August 2nd, using up more resources than the Earth can replenish in a year. This day has been occurring earlier each year due to overuse and wastefulness, leading to long-term consequences such as deforestation, overfishing, and pollution. Advanced countries, particularly the US, are the biggest culprits in resource overuse. Solutions to address this issue include putting a price on carbon pollution, investing in reproductive health for women and girls, implementing renewable energy and smart cities, and supporting policies and businesses that prioritize environmental protection. Active participation from individuals, governments, and businesses is crucial to solving these problems.