I'm sure I originally posted this many many years ago, but I can't find that post now, and it's worth calling it to readers' attentions again. Sadly, Rosling has died, and his lectures on this subject are unappreciated.
Here is a later version focused on the subject of world population:
These are two of the finest lectures I've ever heard. And during 30 years in universities, I've heard thousands of lectures.
That first video I only made half way and gave up, but the second video I watched the whole way and several times backed it up to repeat sections. Took 1½ hours. :o)
ReplyDeleteIt was great, thank you.
xoxoxoBruce
What's missing here, and is still missing in almost all economic analysis, is the relationship between three elements: population, consumption and health of the biosphere. Eight billion humans consume as much as possible within the limits of their personal economic constraints; while these economic constraints are unhinged from the biological constraints of the planet. The aggregate environmental impact, from the bottom of the wealth scale to the top, is massive and growing, as both population and consumption increase in tandem. The wealthiest of us already use the equivalent of five Earths per capita; the rest of the world strives for an equivalent consumption level.
ReplyDeleteThree problems emerge: 1) Population is increasing by another two billion. 2) Consumption per capita is increasing, worldwide. 3) The high consumption levels of the world's high consumers will not be decreasing. In effect, this is a perfect storm of increasing resource demand and concomitant environmental impact, pushing the biosphere beyond its homeostatic limits.
Whether we're past all tipping points is anyone's guess. What's clear is that we're moving toward those tipping points very quickly and there's no stopping the train. In the face of this reality, the response is environmental ritual and techno-magical thinking.
Rosling strikes me as a bit disconnected and smug, given an environmental crisis that was well understood 20+ years ago.