The first World Population Day was observed on 11 July 1990. In 30 years, since that first observance, what have we calculated about our future?
Well, the United Nations agrees with current estimates indicating that roughly 83 million people are being added to the world’s population every year. Even assuming that fertility levels will continue to decline, the global population is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100.
What will this mean?
Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population — more than 3 billion people — ALREADY live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1.3 billion live in extreme poverty — less than $1.25 a day.
Also, according to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty.
As for life’s most important resource – Today about 1.8 billion people are living off water that is so polluted by toxic industrial and human waste, that it is not safe for human consumption.
These problems will be exacerbated by overcrowding, and dwindling resources.
More on this topic to come.