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Sci-Fi About Overpopulation Was Way Off
- simonblack 5y agoNot really. The writers extrapolated from the data they had at that time. The figures they obtained for the future were fairly accurate. We have TEMPORARILY been able to feed eight billion by using unsustainable food-producing methods. We have poured lots of fossil-fuel energy into preparing the land - that amount of fossil-fuel won't be available in a generation or so. How do we work the land then?? We have reduced the amount of fish in the sea by roughly 80% since 1960. Another 20 years or so, and fish will be few and far between. Where do we get replacement protein from?? We have drawn down underground aquifers, that take centuries to refill, over the last 40 or so years. That water won't be there in 20-40 years. What do we use for water to grow food then?? We have used up the Earth's resources of tomorrow to feed the excess billions of today. There will be famines in our future. If we could reduce population by implementing a 'One Child per Woman' policy, we could POSSIBLY reduce our numbers quickly enough to sustainable levels (maybe around 1-2 billion) before the shit hits the fan. But I wouldn't bank on it.