According to a new scientific study, the Earth's existing resources are no longer sustainably capable of supporting more than 8 billion people at the current level of consumption.
Medianews.az reports that the results were published in the journal "Environmental Research Letters."
The researchers analyzed demographic indicators and the dynamics of resource use over the past two centuries, based on the concept of "carrying capacity." This indicator determines how many people the planet can support without depleting natural resources.
According to the study, under current consumption patterns, the Earth's optimal carrying capacity is about 2.5 billion people. Meanwhile, the current world population has exceeded 8 billion, which shows a significant gap between the planet's capabilities and the actual load.
The scientists state that rapid population growth has mainly been made possible by the use of fossil fuels. Although these energy sources temporarily increase access to resources, they are not sustainable in the long term and exacerbate problems such as climate change and ecosystem degradation.
Model projections indicate that population growth will slow in the coming decades but will not completely stop. It is likely that the world population will rise to 11-12 billion in the second half of the 21st century.
The authors of the study note that if significant changes are not made in the use of energy, water, land, and food resources, the pressure on natural systems will continue to increase. This also brings the risk of weakening stability at the global level.//BAKU.WS