The Human Population Has Overshot Earth's Long-Term Carrying Capacity, Scientists Warn

Summary: Earth is currently home to about 8.3 billion people, but a new study says our planet's true, long-term sustainable limit is only 2.5 billion. Scientists explain that we actually passed this safe balance back in the 1950s. We didn't notice we were running out of room because burning fossil fuels—like oil and gas—allowed us to artificially boost our food and energy supplies.

However, because fossil fuels are running out and harming the planet, this "party" can't last forever. The global population is expected to keep growing until it peaks at around 12 billion in the 2060s or 2070s, and then it will start to shrink. The researchers make it clear that we don't need any harmful population control or "culling." Instead, we just need to make major, rapid changes to how we use our land, water, and energy so future generations can survive comfortably.

For more details, see rssapp-iflscience-com at iflscience.com/earth-has-83-billion-people-but-these-scientists-think-it-can-only-sustain-25-billion-83055 (opens in new tab)