The figure 6,933,186,872, the number of world’s population reported to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on July 19. In every blink of your eyes, the population grows by two to three persons. The world’s population is expected to hit the 7 billion on Oct. 31. It took only 71 years to triple to 6 billion in 1998, compared to 123 years to double to 2 billion in 1927. The world’s population was 1 billion 200 years ago.
Such a steep increase of the population has been casting a dark shadow over the future of Earth. “There has been no species that has ever crowded Earth rapidly like this,” said Robert Engelman, executive director of Worldwatch Institute. “Shortage of energy and food would be a great problem.”
Earth crowded with humans has been suffering from destruction of the environment and depletion of energy. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), two thirds of the world’s population will suffer from water shortage within 14 years. The primeval forest, dubbed as the lung of Earth, has been halved. The ecology in the ocean has also faced mass extinction of species. In their study released last May, scientists worried that Earth will enter the Anthropocene, the sixth mass extinction, as the earth environment has greatly changed due to activities of human beings.
The world’s arable land increased 13 percent at best since it was measured in 1961, compared to double of the population, indicating that the food-producing arable land has reduced. Crude oil, the main energy source, is forecast to be exhausted in 40 years and natural gas in 70 years, according to scientists.
Canadian public broadcaster CBS reported on July 11 that most of population has grown in developing countries. In other words, 97 out of 100 babies are born in the countries where people are struggling hard to survive the shortage of food. Among top 10 nations in population growth potential in 2050, most of them are developing countries in Asia, such as China, India and Pakistan. UNFPA has pointed out that the vicious cycle of extreme poverty, shortage of food, inequality, high mortality rate and high birthrate would repeat.
Is there no solutions to the problem? Experts said that the problems can be solved when women’s rights are expanded. “When women are given the option of pregnancy and birth, they can reduce the birthrate,” said Engelman. Actually, two out of every five fetuses are born against the intention of women, who are occupying a considerable portion of population growth.
On July 11, UNFPA launched the 7 Billion Actions campaign, on the occasion of World Population Day designated by the United Nations. The campaign aims at giving more chances, such as education and family planning, to women and youths. “As many as 215 million women in developing countries do not know how to conduct family planning,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. “It’s also necessary to reduce consumption of energy and water by developing environmentally-friendly technology,” said Engelman.