with the human population set to double by 2050 what do u believe is the planets maximum capacity for human life or is this merely going controlled by war and disease
2006-09-13 09:40:03 · 4 answers · asked by tom m 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The drive to colonize space will eventually allow for a depopulation much as the Old World (Europe) experienced as the Western Hemisphere became colonized. This question is not solely dependent upon sheer human numbers as you astutely observe by citing socio-political mechanisms like war and disease. I would like to point out technology as an increasingly important co-factor in such a determination. This is not to only focus on the technology of space settlement, but the technology which allows humans to grow food more efficiently, burn fuel more cleanly, create fuel more cleanly, clean up waste sites, restore tracts of land, save endangered species, sequence genomes of whole species of animals and plants and more. Sustainable technologies allow for greater growth. Paul Ehrlich in the 70's predicted a population bomb that would wipe us out by 2000. That has not happened, so even educated predictions fall short of our ability to predict with certainty the load bearing maximum of the Earth.
2006-09-13 09:54:40 · answer #1 · answered by William P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Another question, how does the increase in the average lifespan effect the rate at which the maximum number of people the Earth will sustain will be reached.
2006-09-13 10:43:29 · answer #2 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 300 billion, once they don't all drive cars!
2006-09-13 09:47:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
earth..... i don't know, but its enough place for more city's, but no more place for agriculture.
2006-09-13 09:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋