Discussion about this post

User's avatar
streamfortyseven's avatar

"The exponential increase in use of Earth resources has led to a huge rise in the standard of living for some segments of the population, chiefly in the industrial world, and

the hope for a better standard of living by many others. But the rapid exploitation or

resources since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution coupled with continued population increase cannot continue. The globalization of commerce and trade by use of oil has led to the worldwide exploitation of mineral and energy resources by the industrialized and industrializing countries, in effect, “the tragedy of the commons” (Hardin, 1969) in its ultimate final form. The

decline of oil production will in turn result in the return of local economies forced to

exist on more locally available resources, as has been the circumstance during much of

human history. This will greatly remake our economies and lifestyles from what we know

today. This profoundly important fact is discussed again in its various aspects in subsequent chapters. With the huge population growth made possible by advances in medicine and sanitation, and greatly increased food production largely a benefit of fossil fuels, the finite

Earth resources are under unprecedented stress. In 1700, world population is estimated to

have been about 610 million. It is now seven billion and increasing every day. This huge

increase in population and the related increase in resource consumption are the salient

facts of the past three centuries.

Population growth is the force that drives resource consumption. As we view the

present and look towards the future, this is the overriding challenge to a sustainable and

acceptable future. Due to differences in living standards, some populations (in industrialized countries) use more resources per capita than other populations. In some places local

populations are so desperate to survive they destroy the environment with present use and

cannot preserve it to sustain future population. In general, population growth and the

environment are in direct conflict. In terms of resource use per capita, whether it is large

or small, more people use more resources, renewable and nonrenewable." https://thegreatstory.org/geodestinies-youngquist-2022.pdf

Some of the author's background - "I also express my gratitude to my former employers, who gave me the opportunity to study both domestic and international mineral resource economics and supplies. I was also able to view the social, political, and environmental influences of Earth resources as they relate to the world’s burgeoning population. These include the U.S. Geological Survey, my consulting clients, Sun Oil Company, Shell Oil Company, Amoco, Humble Oil Company (now part of ExxonMobil), the Minerals Department of Exxon Corporation, and my full-time employer in Peru, International Petroleum Company, Ltd., affiliate of what was then Standard Oil Company (N.J.), later to become ExxonMobil Corporation. Working for ExxonMobil in any of its divisions is an intense and continuing educational experience." Read his acknowledgements...

His book is well worth reading.

Expand full comment
Thomas Pierce's avatar

I can't believe that Paul Erlich is still around or that anybody listens to him. I can never forgive The Population Bomb.

Expand full comment
2 more comments...

No posts