8 billion humans: How population growth and climate change are connected as the 'Anthropocene engine

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

transforms the planet

At first glance, the connections between the world’s growing population and climate change seem obvious. The more people we have on this planet, the larger their collective impact on the climate.

However, a closer look with a longer time horizon reveals relationships between population size and climate change that can help us better understand both humanity’s predicament as the global population nears 8 billion people – a milestone the United Nations expects the world to hit on about Nov. 15, 2022.

Looking back to the Stone Age

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Before the ice sheets melted, sea levels were about 400 feet (120 meters) lower than today. That allowed humans to migrate around the world. Everywhere they went, our ancestors reshaped landscapes, first by clearing forests and then through early agricultural practices that emerged in a number of regions starting just as the last ice age ended.

Paleoclimatologist William Ruddiman has suggested that these early actions – cutting down trees and expanding farming – caused a small initial rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That contributed to a stable climate over the past 10,000 years by counteracting trends of declining carbon dioxide levels that might have triggered another glaciation event.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/8-billion-humans-population-growth-120021886.html

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. There are far too many people on this planet.

A truly sustainable number would be no more than 1 billion. Sadly, we are so overpopulated, and have collectively so trashed the environment, that, were we to be fortunate enough to have a swift and drastic crash of population, we'd probably need to go down to half a billion. And it would still take years, maybe decades, possibly centuries, for the damage to be undone.

To read an interesting science-fiction series that addresses this, look at John Barnes' Directive 51 series. Really good, and really scary.

Oh, and as for the another glaciation event thing, several years ago at a Mile Hi Con in Denver (it's a science fiction thing with lots of science stuff also) there was a talk about glaciation, how often it's occurred, and so on. The climatologist giving the talk stated very clearly that we should be in the clear beginnings of a new glaciation, but global warming has confused the issue. Fascinating.

[Delphinus]

2. I agree,

about far too many people on the planet. But this is one issue that is not ever discussed.

I like a good Sci-Fi story so may look into the series you suggested.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Right now there are only three books in that series.

John had some disagreements with the publishers, and I understand he intends several more.

I will worn you it is not an optimistic happy ending story. Far from it. But it is extremely good, in my opinion.

And yeah, more to the point, the fact that this planet is seriously overpopulated simply isn't addressed. I've read more than one s-f story or novel that anticipates many billions more, and doesn't really see that as much of a problem except, perhaps, in terms of a tiny bit of overcrowding.

I have one son. He'll be 40 next month, and is highly unlikely to have children. As much as I would have liked to have had grandchildren, I'm actually glad at this point that I don't have any. Because the future is looking more bleak and grim every day, and I feel very sorry for young people.

[Brenda]

3. Yet men keep pushing to have more

humans born. More control over women's bodies even in so-called first world nations like the USA.

Look. It's too fucking late for all of us.

Be nice to your neighbors and always have a backup plan.

[Delphinus]

5. I'm afraid

you are correct.

Good neighbors are helpful, as are backup plans.