The world population is growing too fast for the planet to sustain. But how many people can exist on Earth before the planet reaches a tipping point? This is How Many People Can Live On Earth? , a thought-provoking BBC documentary made and hosted and narrated by internationally renowned naturist Sir David Attenborough.
The film argues that humanity is unknowingly adapting to a supreme reckoning. A number of experts from the United Nations and other global organizations have laid the groundwork for this dilemma. They conclude that one of the main drivers of our looming danger lies in the many medical innovations that have allowed humans to live longer. As a result, the population has soared steadily since the 18th century. This presents an interesting dichotomy: our differences may be caused in part by the same advances that ensure our longevity.
As the film demonstrates, we are already witnessing the negative effects of overpopulation around the world. More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water, food shortages are severe, and the international energy crisis continues to haunt us. With an estimated 80 million newborns born each year, many of them in areas where resources have been severely depleted, the world faces a catastrophic fate from which no one is spared.
What is the solution? The filmmakers advocate for the need for smaller families and more birth control. The film also promotes new investment in education, especially for women in poor countries, since the highly educated are less likely to have multiple children. Only by following each of these steps, Attenborough claims, can humans effectively limit the emergence of new life and ensure a sustainable future for our species.
Some viewers may wonder how many people can live on Earth? be represented. It may be grim and controversial, but Attenborough’s affable manner and science-based approach make an insightful and compelling argument. He interprets humans with the same microscopic curiosity that he studies the animal kingdom.
Directed by: Helen Shariatmadari
