POPULATION BOMB

IN his 1968 book The Population Bomb, Professor Paul Ehrlich predicted mass starvation on Earth due to overpopulation in the near future. Fortunately, his dire prediction has not eventuated. With the population more than twice his predicted tipping point there has never been less poverty and more plentiful food supplies than today.

Probably the single greatest contributor to this global abundance is enthusiastic use of (nonrenewable) fossil fuels. The problem with existing renewable energy sources is with current technology they cannot sustain eight billion people on planet Earth.

The other unexpected eventuality was at the end of the 20th century populations started to decline in countries where prosperity had generated a large and well educated middle class.

The hope was that regions with high birthrates like Africa, the Middle East and India embraced industrialisation, living standards would improve and the world population would stabilise. Net zero CO2 advocates have been accused of “kicking the can down the road” due to the burgeoning world population inevitably obliterating any progress. Net Zero is a worthy goal, but only after we have lifted the poorer nations out of poverty.

Richard McCure

Sandy Bay