In ecology, animal populations grow in a distinct S-shaped pattern up to the environment’s carrying capacity. Globally, the human population has been following a similar curve, and we’re already past the inflection point, where population growth rates have begun to fall over time. The global population of humans is projected to reach steady state sometimes between 2060-2100. This could change though, what with humaty’s proclivity for making things awful
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LesserAbe@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I could be mistaken but based on recent demographic trends I don’t think people are talking about overpopulation much these days. Seems to be a trend that industrialized countries population goes down. China is looking at falling below replacement rate. Of course there’s the argument that we already have too many people, but if everyone starts going down then hey problem solved
protist@mander.xyz 1 day ago
masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
We’re already over populated. We’re no longer about to drive off a cliff due to over population but we’re still continuously damaging the planet with the number of humans we have.
LesserAbe@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Right, but we could have the same number of people while being ecologically sustainable. The problem seems like more one of distribution and technology, not total number of people. And besides, what’s the alternative? So I think it’s ok to say it’s a good thing the population outlook is downward while recognizing we’ve still got problems
masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Right, but we could have the same number of people while being ecologically sustainable.
What are you basing that on?
We can live more sustainably than we do, but that doesn’t mean we can support this level of population sustainably on the earth’s systems.
And besides, what’s the alternative? So I think it’s ok to say it’s a good thing the population outlook is downward while recognizing we’ve still got problems
The alternative is to frankly acknowledge that the earth can’t sustain our current population levels, so policymakers and voters should be focused on increasing economic output with fewer people, and individuals should not be maximalist when it comes to number of children.
MBech@feddit.dk 1 day ago
I have no proof and no source whatsoever BUT! Nature surely has a way to combat overpopulation. Animals stop reproducing when their environment stops supporting life properly. Humans aren’t much different. Too much stress, either from being sourrounded by too many people, or from our environment not meeting our demands, make us not want to have children. We also don’t NEED children anymore, since society will take care of us in place of children. With a constant pressure from society to always work more, harder and better, it’s no wonder we don’t want children. Our environment doesn’t support us anymore, we lost reason to procreate, and so nature corrects by not making us do so.
Witchfire@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Having an anti-intellectualism toddler dictator also tends to affect population
LesserAbe@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s not just the US. It’s pretty much every country with a high standard of living.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
It’s already progressed beyond that, global birth rates are already hitting and falling below replacement rate
WanderingThoughts@europe.pub 1 day ago
There aren’t much countries where the population is actually growing, and where there is still growth, it won’t be for much longer. Governments are increasingly panicking over depopulation. Babies are future workers and customers after all. They tried immigration, but that runs into popular backlash.
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masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
That doesn’t mean we’re not overpopulated though.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
It does not. I don’t have a genuine opinion on whether or not we are overpopulated. It doesn’t seem to matter since the trend is already very much in the opposite direction and there’s nothing we can do even if we decide we are.
masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
We are though, by any objective measure of our planet’s health and sustainability.
The only measure that you could look at that would suggest we weren’t overpopulated is the billionaire musk view of ‘but more indentured servants mean that I get richer’.