Balancing Growth and Sustainability: Exploring the Optimal Global Population

Abstract

This essay examines the implications of global population growth on sustainability and human development in the context of contemporary environmental challenges. With projections indicating a rise to 10.9 billion by 2100, concerns over resource scarcity and climate change intensify. The analysis utilizes the “IPAT” framework to explore how population size, affluence, and technology interact to shape environmental impacts. Historical perspectives, including Malthusian theory and the Green Revolution, are reviewed to assess their relevance in understanding current trends. Advances in agriculture, health sciences, and technology are highlighted as mitigating factors that challenge traditional notions of population limits. The essay concludes by discussing policy implications for achieving an “optimal” global population that balances sustainable development with improved living standards and environmental stewardship.