Environment & Energy

So like I say, those declining fertility projections are wonderful and all that, but we're a long way from population growth not being a big problem, especially if the countries with the high fertility (say 3 or more on average / women) reach the per capita resource consumption and pollution emissions of all kind as, say, China.

For example, the U.N. (in its 2019 report) projects Africa's current 1.3 billion population to reach 2.5 billion in 2051 (and nearly 4.3 billion in 2100). (using that Interactive Data tool https://population.un.org/wpp/ ).

If their per-capita impact remains the same as now, it wouldn't be that big a deal on a global basis (locally, that's a way different matter). But if their per-capita impact reaches the level of China's today, it's a whole 'nuther story.

It's a big ticking time bomb. But I also have hope (#14 below)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1127&pid=129133

(Unfortunately I'd add that I think environmental factors and resource limitations will be the biggest reason for population falling short of projections).

I lived a number of years in Lagos, Nigeria around 1967-1971. Am so saddened to see Lake Chad almost entirely dried up, and living standards falling (I can dig up a recent article about that).