How long will Earth be able to accommodate humans? The 8 billion population milestone reminds us how important demographic or population aspects are for the journey of the nation and the world.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
IVAN DWI KURNIA PUTRA
Children playing traditional games in the Child-Friendly Integrated Public Space (RPTRA) Mardani Asri, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, Sunday (20/11/2022) in commemoration of World Children's Day 2022. Today, the world's human population was estimated at 8 billion..
When the Earth's population is estimated to have reached 8 billion, the challenges that arise can be imagined. The need for food, clothing and energy continues to increase.
The pressure on the environment due to the increasing population of Earth is very considerably felt. Piles of plastic waste, increases in carbon emissions, destruction of flora and fauna habitat and water pollution are inevitable because humans continue to fill every corner of the Earth.
Various innovations are attempted so that the negative impacts of human activities on the environment can be suppressed. Therefore, waste recycling, non-fossil energy use and waste treatment technology are applied. Innovation is needed so that human needs such as food are still fulfilled efficiently while reducing pressure on the environment.
However, the question still arises, how long will Earth be able to accommodate humans? Until when will technological innovations be able to solve the problems of the growing population of Earth? Will the Earth's carrying capacity be completely eroded at some point?
Based on those questions, there emerged the big idea that at some point humans should leave Earth and look for a new planet. Mars is one of the goals, even though that does not rule out the idea of going to other planets outside the solar system. A number of countries are starting to think about making the Moon as a base for long journeys across space. Missions to the Moon these days cannot be separated from the initial preparations for realizing this big idea.
KEEGAN BARBER/NASA VIA GETTY IMAGES/AFP
In this handout provided by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), guests at the Banana Creek viewing site watch the launch of NASAs Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I flight test, from Launch Complex 39B on November 16, 2022, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
However, in the short term, the exodus is not yet urgent. A more pressing issue is ensuring that the people of Earth have good health, sufficient education and prosperous income. This needs to be realized while ensuring that the damage experienced by Earth does not get worse.
In addition, there are different challenges related to the population that cannot be ignored. With the passing of time, it is predicted that the growth of the world's population will slow down, eventually even aging, and the world's population will decrease slowly. In this process, the implications are very broad, touching the demographic structure, employment, global economy and geopolitics. One implication is that global productivity will fall and subsidies for the elderly will increase. In addition, there will be a shift in power among major countries.
The process of change will certainly raise turmoil. Tension between countries, even war, could be inevitable. Indonesia will feel its influence, even being part of a group of countries that have experienced a change in population structure and an increase in subsidies.
We have no choice but to face all these tough challenges. Finally, the 8 billion population milestone reminds us how important demographic or population aspects are for the journey of the nation and the world.
