With so many mouths to feed, the planet looks like a 24-hour kitchen… but the fridge is emptying fast!
Impact on natural resources
The world population in 2025 is about 8.2 billion , with an annual growth rate of 0.8 per cent.
Continents with the highest growth rates are Africa, with 2% per year, andAsia, home to 59% of the world’s total population.
World population is expected to peak at 10.3 billion by 2080 and then stabilise or decline slightly.
As the population grows, so does the need for resources such as water, land and minerals.Fresh water, for example, is one of the environmental matrices most in crisis: we consume more and more of it, but there is less and less of it, especially in arid and crowded areas.
Fertile soil is also at risk, turned into intensive fields or construction, leaving little room to regenerate.
Then there are the minerals and fossil fuels, which we pull out at an unbridled pace to satisfy energy and industry, risking depletion and also producing a lot of toxic waste. With a population that never stops growing, we end up cutting down forests to make room for fields, buildings or roads. But this destroys natural habitats and puts so many animal and plant species at risk. And when we lose biodiversity, ecosystems become more fragile.
Population growth and pollution
As the population grows, more and more energy and transport is needed to meet everyone’s needs.
We often use oil and coal, but these emit an avalanche of CO2 and other gases that retain heat and raise the temperature of the planet.
Result? More droughts, storms and floods.
As we grow, we also produce more waste: plastic, glass, metal, food…
Landfills are filling up and releasing harmful gases and producing leachate, which must also be disposed of, thus lengthening the waste queue. Incineration is not the best solution and recycling is still too limited.
More people also means more industry and homes, and with that comes a whole load of pollutants in the water and air.
Chemicals discharged without control damage rivers, lakes and the sea, and particulate matter in the air makes it difficult to breathe.
We need sewage treatment plants, technology to reduce emissions and stricter environmental regulations to deal with all this chaos.
Solutions and world politics
Educating the population on the importance of birth planning and ensuring access to safe and efficient contraceptives is essential. In contexts where these resources are lacking, implementing sex education programmes aimed at young people can be a key solution.
The sustainable management of natural resources requires commitment and practical solutions: recycling helps reduce waste, while the adoption of environmentally friendly farming methods, such as permaculture, promotes soil protection.
In parallel, it is crucial to invest in water-saving technologies, such as rainwater harvesting systems and drip irrigation, to optimise the use of this vital resource, especially in areas most vulnerable to drought.
As far as energy is concerned, investing in renewables – such as solar, wind and hydropower – and promoting energy efficiency are indispensable steps to limit dependence on fossil fuels.
Protecting forests and biodiversity is essential to maintain a balance between development and environmental conservation. Recycling and the use of biodegradable materials are a pillar for effective waste management and the protection of ecosystems.
Play for the planet!