Population Growth
The Art
The Science
What’s Alarming
Human population is growing at an astonishing rate, from 1.6 billion to 6.1 billion during the 20th century alone, and is expected to exceed 9 billion over the next 50 years.
This growth will increase the demand for fossil fuels, with a resulting increase in carbon emissions. In its report “Global Warming 1.5°C” the UN’s climate council, the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change, identified the projected increase in global population as one of four key factors that will impede our goal of limiting post-industrial global temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Figure as published in UN Environment (2019). Global Environment Outlook – GEO-6: Healthy Planet, Healthy People. Nairobi. DOI 10.1017/9781108627146.
