Scientists declared Earth overpopulated

Humanity has already exceeded the planet's sustainability limits at the current level of resource consumption - this is the conclusion reached by international researchers.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the journal Environmental Research Letters, scientists analyzed demographic indicators and the pace of natural resource use over the past 200 years. The study is based on the concept of "carrying capacity" - an indicator showing how many people the Earth can sustain without depleting its reserves.

According to the specialists' calculations, under the current consumption model, the optimal population size is approximately 2.5 billion people. However, in reality, this figure has already exceeded 8 billion, indicating a significant imbalance between the planet's capabilities and the level of pressure placed on it.

Experts emphasize that the sharp population growth was made possible through the active use of fossil fuels. This factor temporarily expanded access to resources and allowed for maintaining a high standard of living. Nevertheless, this model is not sustainable: dependence on non-renewable energy sources intensifies environmental risks, including climate change and ecosystem destruction.

According to forecasts, in the coming decades the rate of population growth will begin to decline, but growth will not stop entirely. According to researchers' estimates, the peak may be reached in the second half of the 21st century and amount to approximately 11–12 billion people. Scientists warn: without fundamental changes in resource management - from energy to food - pressure on the environment will intensify, which could trigger an increase in global instability.