Does population growth matter?
In order to view the videos online at Big Picture TV, you need to install the Macromedia Flash Player 8 (or later) and have Javascript enabled in your browser.
About the video: ‘Does population growth matter?’
In a number of developed countries populations are now in decline. This is problematic in that it raises dependency ratios, but it can be managed by adjusting the age of retirement. What is of greater concern is the United Nations’ forecast that the world’s population will grow by 50% – a further 3 billion – by 2050. This is likely to happen mostly in developing countries where ecosystems are already in collapse.
Total views: 4,791
Filmed: San Francisco, USA on 6 February 2006
Credits: Interviewer - Marcus Morrell, Camera and Editor - Marcus Morrell
Copyright © 2006 Big Picture TV
About Lester Brown
Lester Brown is an American environmentalist. He’ s the founder and former President of the Worldwatch Institute, the first research institute devoted to the analysis of global environmental issues, and founder and President of the Earth Policy Institute, which aims to provide a vision of a sustainable economy.
Dr Brown has authored or co-authored over 50 books on global environmental issues, including” Who Will Feed China?” and his most recent book “Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization”. HE is the recipient of the 1987 UN Environment Prize and The Washington Post has called him “one of the world’s most influential thinkers.”
Other videos with Lester Brown
Lester Brown
Can biofuels be sustainable?
Dr Brown explains that higher oil prices mean biofuels are now economically competitive. The sector is seeing huge growth as a result. But as more food crops are transformed into…
Recorded: 6 February 2006
Lester Brown
What are different crops used for biofuels?
Lester Brown predicts a massive growth in demand for the crops that produce biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel. These include soya beans, rapeseed (canola), sugarcane and…
Recorded: 6 February 2006
Lester Brown
What’s wrong with buying bottled water?
Lester Brown draws our attention to the wasteful nature of bottled water. Tap water in most countries is perfectly OK to drink. Many public water supplies, in fact, are of better…
Recorded: 6 February 2006
Lester Brown
What is the future for World food supplies? (Part One)
In this two-part series Lester Brown looks at two environmental trends, aquifer depletion and rising temperatures. He focuses primarily on the long-term implications these have…
Recorded: 1 December 2004
Lester Brown
What is the future for World food supplies? (Part 2)
In this two-part series Lester Brown looks at two environmental trends, aquifer depletion and rising temperatures. He focuses primarily on the long-term implications these have…
Recorded: 1 December 2004
Lester Brown
Can we restructure the economy to make it more sustainable?
In the first clip in this two-part series, Lester Brown talks about the issues he addresses in his book ‘Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress.’ In the book he examines…
Recorded: 1 December 2004
Lester Brown
Can we restructure the economy to make it more sustainable? (part 2)
In this second clip, Lester Brown suggests what can be done if world leaders are to get serious about climate change. The first step would be to phase out old-fashioned incandescent…
Recorded: 1 December 2004
Related videos
Michael Meacher
How can humanity better respect the environment?
Michael Meacher MP addresses the theme of environmental governance. He begins by talking about the fragile nature of our Earth’s biosphere, with particular reference to James…
Recorded: 31 March 2004
Mathis Wackernagel
Why does our ecological footprint matter?
In collaboration with Canadian William Rees, Mathis Wackernagel has pioneered and developed an ecological measurement called the Ecological Footprint. Here he describes the significance…
Recorded: 1 September 2002
Aubrey Meyer
How did the concept of ‘Contraction and Convergence’ develop?
The result of the GCI’s lengthy research was a policy framework called “Contraction and Convergence” (C&C). This was in direct reponse to post-war “Expansion…
Recorded: 11 November 2004
Aubrey Meyer
What is the ‘Contraction and Convergence’ approach to tackling climate change? (Part 1)
In the first of this series of three clips, Meyer explains how ‘Contraction and Convergence’ (C&C) combats climate change within an organized, international framework.…
Recorded: 11 November 2004
Sir Crispin Tickell
How can humanity cope with climate change?
Sir Crispin notes that global warming and other changes in the environment can and must be treated in a more holistic manner. There is an urgent need for everyone to recognize the…
Recorded: 9 March 2005
HRH Prince of Wales
What is the future of food? (part 1)
The Prince of Wales gave this closing speech at the Terra Madre conference in Turin, Italy. The conference, held in October 2004, brought together 5,000 small scale food producers…
Recorded: 23 October 2004
