What are some challenges the world will face with the increase in global populations?

Question

What are some challenges the Earth's population must face as we begin the 21st century?

We have increasing populations, but eventually we will reach carrying capacity where these people are no longer sustainable on Earth. (Think, China, Africa, etc). I already have lack of healthcare, and resource depletion (water, soil, etc).

What are some ways we can take responsibility for ensuring a sustainable future for the planet? What actions can we take?

Thanks in Advance!

Answer 1

Problems:
food
Disease
fuel
space
wildlife
polution
Solution:
Leadership
Education
Effort

Answer 2

In a few years the world will face this as it's most important problem, Most people right now would rather not think of it. As a citizen of earth I like you realize that there has to be a way of limiting the population growth, the eventual elimination of large groups of people almost has to be terrible, evil, but necessary. We will see in the future an increase in wars, disease, starvation, pestilence,or genocide unless the leaders of all nations recognize that we as humans sharing the same planet have to to come up with a more humane solution of population growth.
In an effort to not seem to pessimistic I offer a small capitulation of an old Peanuts comic strip.

Lucy laying in bed was approached by Charlie Brown the conversation went like this. "Lucy did you ever think of what you will do in the future when there are so many people around that you won't have a place to stand?". Not to worry said Lucy, " I'll just stay in bed". This is the mind set of the people that don't realize the we will have a problem.

Answer 3

I am old enough to remember that when I was a child they were predicting that there would be a disaster by the year 2000 due to the very things you are worried about.

Then, enter birth control, wars, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, famines (mostly war-induced), genetic improvements in food crops and the super volcano under Yellowstone Park is yet to come (and overdue, I might add).

So, it never happened and most of us are not losing much sleep over the fact that somebody is (still) predicting it.

Answer 4

The world will be fine... it will still be the world... us humans and other living things on the planet may have some problems... but despite all some form of humanity is bound to survive... Everybody dies eventually, so whether its fast or slow doesn't really matter as long as the species survives and evolves. And even if the species doesn't survive... does that really matter? Survival of the fittest, maybe the cockroaches will rule... Maybe they will learn from our mistakes and build a better world... whatever better means..

Answer 5

As the population increases ,saturation will be delayed by very bad wars possible killing 2 billion people.

Answer 6

working out of food is #a million in my ideas. there is in basic terms lots farm land, and in basic terms lots clean water to irrigate aspects that aren't getting sufficient rain to apply in any different case. whilst all the good land is cultivated, any inhabitants enhance will shrink the quantity of food consistent with person.

Answer 7

We need to figure out how to terraform the other planets.