Is Humanity Sustainable?

In short...no. Not by a long shot.

But we can be. More on that soon.

An estimated 7.8 billion people lived on planet Earth in 2020. And our numbers are more than doubling every 50 years.

Think on this for a moment; at a population of 7.8 billion we are already unsustainable. And by 2050 our population is predicted to grow to 14 billion.

At this scale, how can anything be done sustainably?

The more our population grows the more unsustainable our existence becomes.

In society we often discuss transport as a long standing sustainability issue. But now the simple act of feeding ourselves has become unsustainable. And soon the basic bi-products of 'living' such as breathing or using the bathroom, will be unsustainable.

At this rate of growth, can life be sustained?

The human raise has often been described as a pest. Growing uncontrollably and exponentially, and destroying its environment in the meantime.

And the eventual outcome of a pest species is; self-extermination.

As I'm writing this, human kind has taken shelter indoors due to the COVID19 Government imposed restrictions, to limit our exposure to this year's Coronavirus. However, little do we realise, the biggest virus on our planet (and the foremost threat to our race) is us.

So how can this continue?

At this rate it surely can't.

There's only so much planet, yet the population issue is spiralling out of control.

What's being done to fix the issue?

The looming threat of the United Nations worldwide depopulation program (Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development) and other similar initiatives by private investment groups (e.g. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) and Government funded NGOs (like World Health Organisation), are scheduled to reduce our population by up to 80%.

And although this appears to be a necessity for the continuation of our species, it's important to understand that the ramifications on the individual and on our way of life will be extreme.

Firstly, let's accept that an 80% reduction in population entails the death of a very large group of people.

Secondly, let's also accept that the management of a program of this nature requires control over the masses.

In communicating this I'm desperately trying to avoid sounding like a conspiracy theorist. I'm not one. I'm simply pointing out what is obvious.

If you read the information provided through the links shared above, you will discover this for yourself.

What it boils down to is this:

The global governments (not one, but many/all governments) will not allow our species to be made extinct from overpopulation.

So rectifying-actions will be taken. It's just a matter of time. And reviewing the initiatives above, these programs are already well on their way.

This is the direction of the world. And unless the human population changes it's tact, these programs will be rolled out in force. They have to be. What other choice is there?

What can we do?

Personally, I hold a pessimistic view of the future. I don't see how we will turn this around without being forced to do so.

Humans are creatures of habit. Not only this, we avoid discomfort like the plague. We avoid facing the hard facts and steer away from the inconvenient truth. And because of these biological shortcomings, our way of life does not change.

Do what you can, before you can't

Do what you can, while you can, before you can't. If you want to avoid the eventual, and likely outcome (outlined above), you need to make a change.

The old saying goes; be the change you want to see in the world.

Here are some ideas for sustainable living - and I'll share only the ones that will really make a difference. Not the peripheral ones like recycling, turning off your lights when you're not using them, etc. Because these are not the problem, any more than flushing the toilet or eating is a problem.

The problem is 'scale'. Any act, even breathing, is unsustainable at scale.

Some ideas for sustainable living:

- Reproduction; in an overpopulated world, reproduction is not only unnecessary, it's exacerbating the issue. For most, this is a difficult fact to accept.

- Food choices; some foods require less natural resources to produce than others. And some foods require less transport. So, consume more of the less environmentally taxing food sources.

- Policy making; policies/laws around topics such as euthanasia need to be considered. Euthanasia should be an individuals choice.

- Business; if an act is ever committed at scale it's in the industry sector - business. As business owners we need to opt for the less environmentally taxing solutions, over profit (although more often than not, these are very well aligned with profit).

- Lifestyle; make generally better, less environmentally taxing choices in your life. Walk or ride a bike. Catch public transport. Watch your energy consumption (I know I said I wouldn't mention that) and buy less things.

- Finance; The financial world is corrupt to say the least, and vastly over-leveraged. Our economies are built on unsustainable debts, the repayment of which require unnatural and unsustainable actions to be taken. Suring up your financial position will enable you to be less financially pressured, freeing you up to make more sustainable choices in your life.

If we can significantly move the needle on the above sustainability practices, then we may have a chance to manage the sustainability issue and subsequently maintain control of our destiny.