Global population has hit 8 billion.

[TeaCider]

As the 8 billionth child is born, who were 5th, 6th and 7th?

The world is still growing, but not as fast as when the six- and seven-billionth babies were born.

www.bbc.co.uk

Increased by over 6 billion in the last 100 years.

It's a funny situation we're in where birth rates are below replacement level in many countries, especially in the West, but the birth rates in Africa are so high that it still keeps hurtling upwards.

Countries like Japan and South Korea are heading towards a demographic crisis with their low birthrates and aging population, at a certain point there won't be enough working people to pay for those who have retired, it's probably only going to be solved by opening up to more immigration.

Inevitable consequence of people living longer than ever, and having fewer kids and at a later time in their lives.

Not sure what the solution is really, the world doesn't need more people, but societies do.
Probably something like increased automation to help provide.

 

[afcb_acklam]

nature will sort it, but not in a good way

 

[Johnny Vincents Motorbike]

Taxes on Robotics - its being called for by the super rich - its the one thing that will keep them rich - otherwise the rest of humanity will have to take their riches off them - and take back control of the means of production.


its a strange planet we live on.

 

[Centralscrutinizer]

It's all just a massive pyramid scheme

 

[Colgates_shaving_foam]

If there are too many people in some places and not enough people in others to do the jobs required then it's going to need a global immigration/emigration discussion. Will need that anyway as people are going to have to move to escape the huge climate catastrophe.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

And if you believe the mainstream media they'll all be on boats trying to cross the channel.

 

[Redwurzel]

Its Interesting that population growth rarely seems to get mentioned as a cause of global warming, but it must be part of the reason too.

I remember writing in a geography lesson that the world population will be an enormous 4 billion by 1980.

42 years later its 8 billion!

I don't think most people in the UK realise how quickly the world population is increasing.

 

[1finny]

Someone just mentioned this to me today and I paused for a think before saying...

'So what'
Then I got the 'over population'....'climate change' response.

I have no idea whether we are overpopulated or not - seems plenty of spare land around.

Climate change? It appears to be everyone else's problem to solve other than us as individuals.
Guess what happens in that situation? Vast majoritty do nothing other than vilify protesters who do want something done.

Looks like I'm still in the 'so what' camp

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Its Interesting that population growth rarely seems to get mentioned as a cause of global warming, but it must be part of the reason too.

I remember writing in a geography lesson that the world population will be an enormous 4 billion by 1980.

42 years later its 8 billion!

I don't think most people in the UK realise how quickly the world population is increasing.

Of course not, they haven't a clue what's happening in the UK, never mind the rest of the world. It's how Tories win elections. Education isn't good for the Conservative Party.

 

[UTB70]

We are the earths cancer. Slowly killing it. Arguably quickly killing it

 

[Air Resistance]

The issue as I see it is, what happens when we do reach global decline in a world where much of the move towards prosperity, equality and higher standard of living relies on endless growth.

 

[1finny]

The issue as I see it is, what happens when we do reach global decline in a world where much of the move towards prosperity, equality and higher standard of living relies on endless growth.

I'm not sure that's the case tho
Poverty and hunger don't have to happen.
Just look at UK with food banks, kids going hungry etc - that doesn't have to be the case.

It's political.

 

[Unravel_Morrison]

Population growth itself is slowing and we don't actually know that it's reached 8 billion; it's based on modelling; we could be way past that mark or well short.

 

[Facefuzz]

It’s quite clear there are to many of us on the planet.
It’s quite clear we’re killing the planet.
I’ve posted before that we need to limit the number of humans and stop thinking we can have ever increasing economic growth.
We’re the most clever animals on the planet but we’re also the greediest and most selfish.
There may be enough land, as there is on the moon or mars however there is not the food and minerals to sustain it

 

[Redwurzel]

I agree the growth is slowing, but that extra 4 billion people in 42 years to me, means double the carbon and methane and the loss of a lot of forests to agriculture.

The amount of drinkable water is declining and will decline, but the population is increasing that is particularly scary. I see how many people eat too many calories and how we can use fertilisers more effectively, but its much harder to make drinkable water and every human needs at least a litre a day?

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

I divided Jeff bezos wealth by the number of people in the world as he says he's going to give all his money to charity and I thought why not just give money to everyone in the world. Turns out we'd all get just over £15 each. So I thought he may as well not bother and should probably just give it to the salvation army instead.
It does make you realise how generous U2 were being when they gave us that album for free. Missing out on about £182 billion of revenue there. And there we all were thinking bono was just being a ****.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

It’s quite clear there are to many of us on the planet.
It’s quite clear we’re killing the planet.
I’ve posted before that we need to limit the number of humans and stop thinking we can have ever increasing economic growth.
We’re the most clever animals on the planet but we’re also the greediest and most selfish.
There may be enough land, as there is on the moon or mars however there is not the food and minerals to sustain it

I don't know about that. Geese are absolute b***ds.

 

[bumface]

I've done my bit by never having kids and by doing as much damage as I can to myself with booze, cigs and drugs over the years, to make sure that I won't live to a ripe old age. I'm a hero, really. You should all bow down and worship me.

 

[1finny]

It’s quite clear there are to many of us on the planet.
It’s quite clear we’re killing the planet.
I’ve posted before that we need to limit the number of humans and stop thinking we can have ever increasing economic growth.
We’re the most clever animals on the planet but we’re also the greediest and most selfish.
There may be enough land, as there is on the moon or mars however there is not the food and minerals to sustain it

Do you mind explaining why it is quite clear there are too many of us on the planet.
I’m genuinely interested btw.

The best I’ve read questions the availability of resources to ‘feed’ the population but there are contra discussions saying a fair distribution (and change to resource requirements) are solutions.

I’m guessing there is bound to be a population number that makes us go bust tho.

 

[Unravel_Morrison]

I've done my bit by never having kids and by doing as much damage as I can to myself with booze, cigs and drugs over the years, to make sure that I won't live to a ripe old age. I'm a hero, really. You should all bow down and worship me.

A gentleman, a patriot and man of the world.