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Combining environmental and social sciences for decisions
Open Positions
A. Johansen and D. Sornette, Finite-time singularity in the dynamics of the world population and economic indices, Physica A 294 (3-4), 465-502 (15 May 2001)
Pessimistic View Point: "Natural" Scientists
"Excessive peopling of the world is contributing to major environmental trauma, including famine, rain forest destruction, global warming, acid rain, pollution of air, water, overflow and even to the AIDS epidemic."
- irreversible damage to eco-systems,
- global weather systems perturbations,
- severe shortage of water (by 2025, 2/3 people in the world will live in water stressed conditions)
Union of Concerned Scientists (with 99 Nobel Prize winners) asks nations to stabilize population immediately
58 National Academies of Sciences (24-27 Oct. 1993, "Science Summit")
Optimistic View Point: "Social" Scientists
No food, one problem. Much food, many problems
Anonymous
By 1990, the economics profession has turned almost completely away from the previous view that population growth is a crucial negative factor in economic development.
More people, greater wealth, more resources, healthier environment
"Additional persons produce more than they consume in the long run, and natural resources are not an exception."
Innovative spirit of mankind will solve problems as they appear.
Succession of revolutions: tools, agriculture, industrial, medical, information, biotechnology, networks (internet...)
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