A new study warns that humanity is placing more pressure on Earth than the planet can sustainably handle, raising concerns about future food security, climate stability, and human well being. Researchers say the situation is serious, but they also believe that slowing population growth and changing patterns of consumption could still help reduce long term risks.
The research, published in Environmental Research Letters, concludes that humanity has already surpassed Earth's sustainable carrying capacity. Scientists say continued population growth combined with current levels of resource use will place even greater strain on ecosystems and societies around the world.
The study examined more than 200 years of global population data and identified a major turning point in human population trends that began during the mid twentieth century.
Lead author Corey Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology at Flinders University, says the findings reveal a clear sign that humanity is operating beyond the planet's natural limits.
"Earth cannot keep up with the way in which we are using resources. It cannot support even today's demand without major changes, with our findings showing that we are pushing the planet harder than it can possibly cope," says Professor Bradshaw from the Global Ecology Laboratory in the College of Science and Engineering.
