There are many who believe that the human race is on a suicidal path to self-destruction. 

While today, it’s impossible to miss the drumbeat of climate change, in my youth a similar energy of dread was focused on over population. According to “The Population Bomb” by Paul Ehrlich there would be worldwide famine in the 1970’s and 80’s. Population growth would outpace agricultural production and catastrophic famine would result. 

In fact, it was believed that population growth would result in a substantial increase in the world death rate in which hundreds of millions would die.

Today, some still hold this view, but it is in danger of becoming an article of faith, like the Rapture or the return of King Arthur, rather than a fact proven by circumstance.

When I was born, the world population was about 2.9 billion. Today it is 7.9 billion.  You don’t have to be good at math to see how that is way more than double. Why hasn’t civilization collapsed?

Apocalyptic thinking and betting against the survival of humanity can be a fun pastime, but I wouldn’t risk the farm on it.

Humans have a long history of seizing opportunities and confronting challenges head on. Rarely does that mean we take steps in the way the doomsayers would prefer, but nevertheless, we take steps.

When it comes to feeding 7 to 9 billion people, we can do it. You may not like Genetically Modified Organisms, but your preference for organics is probably a privilege of living in a developed country. And even then, 92% of U.S. corn is already genetically engineered according to the center for food safety. 

GMOs are one answer. Using A.I to maximize crop yield is another. Technologies to reduce waste and extend shelf life, along with solar energy generated, low carbon fertilizers are just a few of the advances happening as you read this.

Today, hunger is often caused by war, political oppression, and climate change, but not by a lack of the ability to get the job done. According to an article on BBC.com, there are Five Ways We can Feed the World in 2050, when the population is projected to be about 10 billion.

Of course, it’s not all about food and the logistics of distributing it. Construction technology isn’t standing still either. We’re going to need 2 billion new homes this century, and 3-D printed houses already offer a quick, cheap solution. 

Even so, advancing technology will deliver design collaboration and home customization such that high tech slums are not on the horizon.

In the developing world, arcologies may become popular with their fusion of architecture and ecology, transforming the city into a living system which produces much of its own food and is able to reduce its impact on natural resources.

Earth is mainly a water planet, but only 1.2% can be used for drinking. In the decades and centuries ahead, the availability of drinking water and water for agriculture will be important issues that cannot be avoided.

In fact, climate change may be reducing fresh water supplies just as the need is predicted to grow by more than 50% before 2050. 

Again, humans are unlikely to stand still and take no action. Even today, over half of Israel’s water comes from desalination efforts and they manage to recapture 86% of all waste-water. Globally, more than 300 million people now get their water from desalination plants. This is one trend that must continue to grow. 

Read the article “As Water Scarcity Increases, Desalination Plants Are on the Rise,” at Yale Environment 360.

Though we’ve worried about overpopulation for centuries, with each decade we find more ways to adapt. And the solution to stability is clear. Build economies. 97% of population growth is in the developing world. Education, jobs, resources, and a rising middle class tend to stabilize populations.

Yes, the whole world can develop. As a species, humankind is not even limited to Earth. Our own local solar system offers energy, resources, raw materials, and living space for trillions, possibly quadrillions of our species to thrive before we even begin our settlement of the galaxy.