The Uncertain Future of Global Population Numbers

An anonymous reader writes "The question of global population is a pretty crucial one; how many people will there be in ten years? In forty? The New York Times notes research done by a group called the Worldwatch Institute, research that concludes world population figures are too fluid to make any sort of educated guesses. Childbearing populations combined with severe resource shortages in some parts of the world make pinning down a global headcount unfeasible for ten years from now, let alone out to 2050. The article continues beyond its original borders, as well, with commenters in the field of population studies noting we don't even have a good grasp on how many people were alive in 2007."

Comments

Re:Carrying capacity overshoot

[timmarhy]

As far as i was aware no one really knows why easter island was abandoned? so it's not a great analogy to use.

"Third, problems occur when they occur. To say they never occur because they didn't occur 2 decades ago is just plain nonsense."

no it's nonsense to claim something which has been the status quo for decades (england importing most of it's food) is suddenly going to become a major problem for no reason.

"Global warming has nothing to do with the end of cheap oil"

HA! not if the cult and it's carbon credits insanity is implemented. The idea that oil is going to dry up in 5 years is just nonsense. I hear crap like this all the time (i work in the resources industry) and i just shake my head and laugh.

Re:Easy question, easy answer

[utopianfiat]

It doesn't matter if you educate them. They avoid birth control because the catholic church has moved in in the name of God and told them they'll burn in hell if they use condoms.
Basically, the catholic church is responsible for the persistence of AIDS.