The "Good Old Days" have been found. They were hiding in 1970...

[GliderGuider]

2. I agree about 1% pop growth being too much.

What I found interesting was the fact that both pop and energy growth topped out at the same time. That and the fact that the growth in energy supplies always seems to be about twice the growth in people supplies.

The highest growth period in human history from many perspectives was the period from 1950 to 1970. The growth in fossil fuel supplies drive the whole thing. The implication is that if energy supplies start to fall, so will population.

I'm also fascinated by the bottom graph. It describes how that 20 year growth spurt is going to burden us for a long time due to the enormous asset base we built - one that we may shortly not have the energy to service or maintain.