The Earth has already exceeded its ability to support the global population sustainably, with new research warning of increasing pressure on food security, climate stability, and human wellbeing. However, slowing population growth and raising global awareness could still offer humanity some hope.
The study shows that humans have pushed well beyond the planet’s long-term capacity and that continued growth under current patterns of consumption will intensify environmental and social challenges for communities worldwide.
Can’t read the article due to cloudflare blocking me, but it sounds implausible that barely populated planet can’t sustain more than 2,5 billion people. Feels too much in line with techno-feudalist dreams.
The article says 2.5b people is the max for everyone to have a high standard of living. Lower standards of living could be supported for a larger population. At least that’s the claim.
Idk if that’s necessarily true, though I suppose it depends on what you define as the high standard of living. That isn’t well spelled out. It also assumes there isn’t significant change in energy input required for the high standard output.