Volume 45, Number 15 · October 8, 1998
How Many People Can the Earth Support?
By Joel E. Cohen
The question 'How many people can the Earth support?' is useful, though it is seriously incomplete. It focuses attention on the present and future numbers, qualities, activities, and values of humans in their relations with one another and with the Earth. To explain why people are interested in this question, I offer an overview of global human population, economy, environment, and culture. I then review some answers to the question and describe what is involved in answering it. Finally, I suggest actions that could alleviate some of the problems of population, economics, environment, and culture.
Feature, 3655 words
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