X-Message-Number: 14654
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 08:52:34 -0500 (CDT)
From: "S.J. Van Sickle" <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #14645 - #14651

On Tue, 10 Oct 2000, CryoNet wrote:

> > Population is predicted to rise to 12 billion and then stabilize or
> > gradually decrease. Carrying capacity of the Earth using the
> > technology of 30 years ago is 60 billion.
> 

> Whoa!! Where did you get this figure? Especially regarding 30 year old tech! 
If anything 30 year

> old tech is dirtier and capable of carrying less people per acre. The figures 
I saw were that

> many scientists feel that we already are 4 billion over the carrying capacity 
of the world. The

It all depends on how you define "carrying capacity".  If you mean
"capacity to support humans without significant detrimental effects to the
'natural' environment" we are probably well past that, with current
technology. If you mean "ability to support humans without a massive
die-off, regardless of effect on environment, and the 'wild' areas left
essentially well tended gardens", then the figure is closer to 60 billion,
even with 30 year old technology.

It is a value judgement, not a matter of science or technology.

steve

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