The human population is steadily growing, said Jean-Marc Zaninetti, visiting geography professor from the University of Orleans, France, but increasing pressure on the earth's resources will coincide.
Zaninetti explained the consequences of a rapidly growing population Friday at a University forum called "Why Malthus Was Probably Right," in reference to controversial philosopher Thomas Malthus who suggested increasing population would negatively affect global society.
United Nations statistics show a population boom occurred in the 1950s, he said, and continuing growth has been exponential since. Zaninetti said the U.N. expects the world's population to peak in the latter half of the 21st century.
Zaninetti said there are two options for dealing with increasing population — adaptation or de-growth.
Adaptation would be humanity's wisest choice, he said, but it may be difficult due to the strain a larger population would put on the planet's resources.
He said the earth's other option in coping with higher population, de-growth, isn't favorable, but a forced decrease in population may occur if humanity is unwilling to adapt.
Stephen Beckage, geography graduate student, said Zaninetti's data was convincing.
"If you listened to everything that he had to say, it'd be difficult to argue with him," he said.
Adam McLain, biological sciences graduate student, said Zaninetti provided statistical proof for many of the theories McClain has read, and he said he agrees disastrous problems could arise if individuals are not more cautious about environmental resources.
Human-made climate change is a potentially fatal problem, and more people on Earth will cause more harmful green house gas emissions, Zaninetti said.
"U.N. statistics predict a 32 percent increase in global population by 2050," he said.
More humans on Earth evoke a higher demand for resources like meat and agriculture, he said, but methods used to meet these demands — like an increase in livestock — will cause a greater presence of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and methane in the earth's atmosphere.
Due to these increases, Zaninetti said global temperature is expected to rise 4.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
And he said sustainability relies on individual countries.
"All countries have not been created equal," Zaninetti said.
Statistics from the Global Footprint Network show each country has strengths and weaknesses in sustainability, he said.
India is expected to replace China as the most heavily populated country, but countries in North and South America have a higher biocapacity, or the ability to sustain human life by means of renewable resources, he said.
Zaninetti said statistics show "leaders in the race of a world collapse" are the U.S., China and many European countries. But China is making tremendous efforts to thwart greenhouse gas emissions, he said.
"Many want to dismiss Malthus in favor of a more optimistic outlook," Zaninetti said.
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