A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute projected that India’s middle class will grow from 50 million today to an amazing 583 million by 2025.
As each person becomes more affulent, he or she uses much more energy and food, and because this pattern is happening throughout much of Asia and some other parts of the developing world, it is really hard to imagine how the earth can provide the needed resources. By then the total population will be around 8 billion.
Our present population of 6.6 billion , with a low proportion of heavy consumers is already causing serious damage to the environment so the prospect of 8 billion with a higher proportion of heavy consumers should be causing world leaders to be taking urgent action to improve energy efficiency at all levels. So far efforts are hopelessly weak.

October 22nd, 2007 at 3:45 am
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