breadandcircuses , 2 months ago

You've all heard the (true) story about the rapid growth of reindeer population on St. Matthew Island, followed by a stunning collapse, right?

If not, you can read about it here -- https://www.resilience.org/stories/2003-11-22/st-matthew-island-overshoot-collapse/
Or check out this cartoon -- https://www.stuartmcmillen.com/comic/st-matthew-island/#page-1

But the question is, could the same thing happen to humans? Our population has risen at a similarly rapid pace over the last several decades. Do we face the same fate as those reindeer?

That's the subject of a scientific paper authored by William Rees, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia --

"The Human Ecology of Overshoot: Why a Major Population Correction Is Inevitable"
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/4/3/32#

It's a chilling question to consider, but one we must not ignore. The fact is that infinite growth cannot be sustained on a finite planet. Either we change our ways, or nature will do it for us.

#Science #Environment #Climate #Degrowth