Fertility rates are very high in Africa as indicated by this graphic. If saving lives in the developing world does not indirectly result in a drop in fertility then it pushes in the direction of promoting exponential population growth with a large base.
In general I’m worried about the possibility of global natural resource shortage corresponding to our high rate of natural resource usage resulting in a future natural resource shortage which leads to a population crash, political instability of the nuclear powers, permanent obstruction of future technological development or even human extinction.
I’m worried that pushing in the direction of faster population growth may result in a global natural resource shortage sooner rather than later, before we have the chance to develop sustainable solutions for the demands that human lifestyles impose on Earth’s limited resources.
You do realize that African populations migrate to Europe and the Middle East by the hundreds of thousands per year and that by current projections the rate will soon rise to millions?
I upvoted your remark because this seems like the start of a useful conversation which has the potential to resolve my concerns.
What you say is true at present. But what about taking the long view, projecting ahead to Africa’s hypothetical technological development? The question is whether Africa will develop before or after we’ve developed sustainable solutions. I would guess that we’ll be noticeably past peak oil by the time Africa develops, but not completely sure about this, and maybe there are other future natural resource shortages to look out for?
There’s a sizeable minority that believes we’re at peak everything. I’m 75% certain aid to Africa will be at less than 10% of its current levels within two decades, either because we’ve basically dealt with the problem of resource scarcity, or because the developed world needs every scrap of fuel, food, and materiel it can hang on to.
Fertility rates are very high in Africa as indicated by this graphic. If saving lives in the developing world does not indirectly result in a drop in fertility then it pushes in the direction of promoting exponential population growth with a large base.
In general I’m worried about the possibility of global natural resource shortage corresponding to our high rate of natural resource usage resulting in a future natural resource shortage which leads to a population crash, political instability of the nuclear powers, permanent obstruction of future technological development or even human extinction.
I’m worried that pushing in the direction of faster population growth may result in a global natural resource shortage sooner rather than later, before we have the chance to develop sustainable solutions for the demands that human lifestyles impose on Earth’s limited resources.
There is so little trade with Africa that its increasing population is not going to affect the global resource market.
You do realize that African populations migrate to Europe and the Middle East by the hundreds of thousands per year and that by current projections the rate will soon rise to millions?
I upvoted your remark because this seems like the start of a useful conversation which has the potential to resolve my concerns.
What you say is true at present. But what about taking the long view, projecting ahead to Africa’s hypothetical technological development? The question is whether Africa will develop before or after we’ve developed sustainable solutions. I would guess that we’ll be noticeably past peak oil by the time Africa develops, but not completely sure about this, and maybe there are other future natural resource shortages to look out for?
There’s a sizeable minority that believes we’re at peak everything. I’m 75% certain aid to Africa will be at less than 10% of its current levels within two decades, either because we’ve basically dealt with the problem of resource scarcity, or because the developed world needs every scrap of fuel, food, and materiel it can hang on to.