Mapping the Future
Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research has produced a map projecting where in the world the future population will be living. Today, there are some 6.5 billion people on the planet -- and although projections have no certainty, it is expected that world population will continue to rise -- despite family size shrinking. Improved health care is expected to continue to give more people longer lifespans -- especially in the developed countries.
By 2025, there may an additional 1.4 billion people in the world, based on medium projections. It's expected that population growth will come to most inhabited areas in the world -- however, there will be areas that will experience population decline. The greatest growth is expected in Asia, while the declines are expected in Eastern Europe. As population increases, there will an increase demand on already constrained natural resources and the environment. One doesn't need much of an imagination to see what the scarcity of water, food and power will lead to. As the world shrinks, the social, political and environmental implications will be enormous.
Related links:
By 2025, there may an additional 1.4 billion people in the world, based on medium projections. It's expected that population growth will come to most inhabited areas in the world -- however, there will be areas that will experience population decline. The greatest growth is expected in Asia, while the declines are expected in Eastern Europe. As population increases, there will an increase demand on already constrained natural resources and the environment. One doesn't need much of an imagination to see what the scarcity of water, food and power will lead to. As the world shrinks, the social, political and environmental implications will be enormous.
Related links:
- Population Action International
- United Nations Population Division
- International Migration 2006 -- UN Publication
- International Migration 2006 -- UN Publication
- Population Aging 2006 -- UN Publication
Comments
Post a Comment