According to a United Nations prediction, a baby born on Tuesday will be the eighth billionth human on the planet. More than three times as many people live on Earth today as there did 2.5 billion people in the world in 1950.
The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanitys shared responsibility for the planet, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
According to the UN, the increase is due to human development, with individuals living longer as a result of advancements in medical, diet, personal cleanliness, and public health.
It is a result of rising fertility rates as well, which endanger the development of the world’s poorest nations, the majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The effects of economic development on the environment have also been amplified by population increase.
While some worry that there would not be enough space for eight billion people on Earth, most experts agree that the biggest issue is the overconsumption of resources by the richest individuals.
Some express concerns that our world is overpopulated, said United Nations Population Fund chief Natalia Kanem.
I am here to say clearly that the sheer number of human lives is not a cause for fear.
Joel Cohen of Rockefeller Universitys Laboratory of Populations told the question of how many people Earth can support has two sides: natural limits and human choices.
Humans use significantly more biological resources, such as forests and land, than the world can replenish annually as a result of our decisions.
For instance, excessive use of fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide emissions, which are the cause of global warming.
We are stupid. We lacked foresight. We are greedy. We dont use the information we have. Thats where the choices and the problems lie, said Cohen.