2018/09/13 by Jonathan Baillie, Ya‐Ping Zhang · 1 voice · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/science.aau1397
openalex publication_date 2018/09/13 · openalex created_date 2018/09/27 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
How much of the planet should we leave for other forms of life? This is a question humanity must now grapple with. The global human population is 7.6 billion and anticipated to increase to around 10 billion by the middle of the century. Consumption is also projected to increase, with demands for food and water more than doubling by 2050. Simply put, there is finite space and energy on the planet, and we must decide how much of it we're willing to share. This question requires deep consideration as it will determine the fate of millions of species and the health and well-being of future generations.