Scientists explained the rapid growth of the planet's population

The rapid growth of Earth's population was made possible by the use of fossil fuels.

This is reported by the journal Environmental Research Letters (ERL).

According to scientists, the rapid population growth was made possible by the use of fossil fuels, which temporarily increased resource availability and allowed for sustaining a higher level of consumption.

At the same time, they note that this effect is not sustainable, as dependence on such energy sources simultaneously exacerbates environmental problems, including climate change and ecosystem degradation.

The researchers concluded that the number of humans has already exceeded the level that the planet is capable of sustainably supporting at the current rate of resource consumption. The specialists analyzed demographic data and resource use dynamics over the past two centuries.

The study used the concept of "carrying capacity." This indicator makes it possible to determine how many people can exist without depleting natural resources. According to the scientists' estimates, under current conditions, the optimal population should not exceed 2.5 billion people. Meanwhile, more than 8 billion people already live on Earth, which points to a significant gap between the planet's capacity and the current load.

According to the scientists' forecasts, in the coming decades, Earth's population growth will slow down but will not stop. In the second half of the 21st century, the peak may reach approximately 11–12 billion people, the researchers believe. As the number of people increases, pressure on natural systems will only intensify, which could lead to growing global instability.