A World of Infinite Possibilities
On November 15, 2022, the world will be 8 billion people. It is remarkable because we were under 1 billion until around 1800. The UN has marked November 15, 2022, as “The Day of Eight Billion”. The growth was made possible due to increased life expectancy, enhanced health care, nutrition and personal hygiene. While it is an occasion to celebrate reaching a significant milestone, it is also a time to contemplate. Imbalanced growth, enhanced disparities, prolonged armed conflicts, and newer lifestyle-induced diseases are challenging humanity. The increase in population seen in the immediate past and coming near future is happening in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Substantial improvements in education, health and gender equality and access to employment are challenges to be met. Ensuring minimising environmental damage while ensuring access to sufficient energy is another challenge the world must deal with on priority. More countries are in a demographic trap where population growth is rapid and economic growth lags. China, India, the US, Indonesia, and Pakistan, are the top five most populated nations. When it comes to India, there are going to be many firsts. Sixth of the world’s population lives in India. The second most populated country in the world. Going by the projections, come 2023, India will be the world’s most populous country and the first to home more than 1.5 billion people by 2030. Thankfully, the rate of growth of the population is slowing. People face serious challenges: climate change, ongoing armed conflicts and forced displacement. The concern is whether humanity’s growth would outpace its ability to sustain itself with resources, as expressed by Thomas Malthus, the 18th-century economist. The challenge is creating a world where all 8 billion can thrive.
The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
2 in 1928, 3 in 1960, 4 in 1975, 5 in 1987, 6 in 1999 and 7 in 2011. No, we are not talking about the stock market index; it is the population of earth and that too in billions. On November 15 2022, the world will be 8 billion people. It is projected that by 2037 it will be 9 billion and touch 10 billion by 2058. This is remarkable because we were under 1 billion until around 1800. The UN has marked November 15, 2022, as “The Day of Eight Billion”. It is estimated time on which the world’s population will reach eight billion. The growth was made possible due to increased life expectancy, enhanced health care, nutrition and personal hygiene. While it is an occasion to celebrate reaching a significant milestone, it is also a time to contemplate. Imbalanced growth, enhanced disparities, prolonged armed conflicts, and newer lifestyle-induced diseases are challenging humanity. The increase in population seen in the immediate past and coming near future is happening in low- and lower-middle-income countries. It is challenging for policymakers and world bodies to incorporate these possibilities while formulating development plans. It is paramount to ensure that the changing demographic profile offers opportunities to achieve progress and ensure that no one is left behind. Substantial improvements in education, health and gender equality and access to employment are challenges to be met. Ensuring minimising environmental damage while ensuring access to sufficient energy is another challenge the world must deal with on priority. There is also a need for change in food production and consumption globally.
This is a success story. Our world, despite its challenges, is one where higher shares of people are educated and live healthier lives than at any previous point in history.
Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA
More countries are in a demographic trap where population growth is rapid and economic growth lags. The regions Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are examples of the same. China, India, the US, Indonesia, and Pakistan, are the top five most populated nations. When it comes to India, there are going to be many firsts. Sixth of the world’s population lives in India. The second most populated country in the world. Going by the projections, come 2023, India will be the world’s most populous country and the first to home more than 1.5 billion people by 2030. Thankfully, the rate of growth of the population is slowing. It stands at less than 1% now compared to 2.3% in the eighties. Currently, the average age of an Indian is 28.7 years.
Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, says, “People are the solution, not the problem. Numbers matter but let us count carefully”. The people must learn to live in harmony with nature and bring prosperity to everyone. An increase in the population is leading to loss of biodiversity, pollution, deforestation, and water and food shortage. It is a result of an enhanced number of people and consumption. Many are demanding more of our planet than it can sustainably provide. While many struggle to meet their minimum requirements, some consume more than their fair share. Going by consumption, 1.8 of the planet’s worth of natural resources is needed to meet the world’s needs. Efforts should be concentrated both on reducing excessive consumption and slowing population growth. People face serious challenges: climate change, ongoing armed conflicts and forced displacement. The concern is whether humanity’s growth would outpace its ability to sustain itself with resources, as expressed by Thomas Malthus, the 18th-century economist. The challenge is creating a world where all 8 billion can thrive.
All our environmental problems become easier to solve with fewer people and harder – and ultimately impossible – to solve with ever more people.
David Attenborough
8 billion strong, 8 billion possibilities,
8 billion innovators
Toons: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
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