Humans Versus the Planet Earth.

Human Population Increase

Today there is so much talk and concern that we the Humans are Destroying the Planet Earth due to our activities. However, we should remember that our Planet has been here for at least 4 billion years and has survived every adverse occurrence since its creation. The question should be ‘Will the Humans destroy themselves not the Planet’?

In the year 1400 the Planets Human Population was estimated to be 550 million (550,000,000). In only 650 years from the year 1400, (2050) it is estimated that the Planet Human Population will be 10 Billion (10,000,000,000). 650 years compared to 4 billion years is only a minute fraction of time (0.0000001625) years that a major amount of Humans have been on the Planet. The present Planets Human Population is said to be 8 Billion and rising rapidly.

The Increase in the Population is exponential as in 1950 to 2050 the Population will have increased from 2 Billion to 10 Billion in just 100 years. In the next 100 years the increase rate could be even higher with humans living longer and child birth higher due to medical advancements and increased living standards.

The problem is how long can the Planet Resources sustain the rapid exponential increases in the number of Humans and what effect will this have on Human to Human interface.

Human Industrilisation

Looking at the Planet Population Graph the start of the exponential increase in Population is related to the start and exponential growth of the Human Industrialisation around the 1750’s.

The Steam Engine:

The invention of the James Watt Steam Engine a Scotsman in 1769 was a very significant turning point for the Planet.

The Steam Engine Power principles were improved and adapted over the next 50 years to other Machines for Manufacturing, Pumping and Transportation such as the ‘Rocket’ Steam Locomotive in 1829 in England. The Steam was produced in a Boiler heating water using Coal. However Coal produces Carbon Dioxide CO² which was emitted into the atmosphere. As other countries including the United States and Europe followed England’s lead so the CO² emissions dramatically increased further.

The Electric Motor, Generator and Lights:

The invention of Magnetic Induction, Electrical Motor and Generator by England’s Michael Faraday in 1827 and the Light Bulbs by the USA’s Edison and Tesla in the 1870’s together with many others began another significant turning point on the Planet, Electrical Power. However, to produce the Electrical Supply, Power Stations were constructed which had Generators driven at first with Steam using Coal and then additionally Gas. These also produce a significant amount of CO² emissions. 37% of the Planets Power Stations use Coal.

The Internal Combustion Engine:

The first modern Internal Combustion Engine, known as the Otto engine, was created in 1876 by Nicolaus Otto. With the introduction of the mass produced Ford Model T motor car in 1903 the road vehicles have transformed the Humans life worldwide but they have had a major impact on the amount of CO² emissions due to the use of Oil and Natural Gas for their internal combustion engines. There are estimated to be 1.4 Billion road vehicles, cars, trucks and buses in the world today plus about 500 million motor cycles.

Aviation the Jet Age:

Since the invention of the Turbo-Jet Engine operated in 1937 by the Englishman Frank Whittle and the first Commercial Jet Airliner the English de Havilland Comet in 1949 the Aviation industry has expanded significantly. This expansion increased significantly with the introduction of the Boeing B737 in 1967 and the Boeing B747 ‘Jumbo Jet’ in 1970 to Pan-Am. This also contributes the amount of CO²emissions.

Climate Change due to Human Interference

It has been scientifically proven that the ever increasing CO² is a major factor in what we know as ‘Climate Change’. This actually means we are effecting the Planets ‘Natural Climate Cycle’ that has been ongoing for Billions of years without major Human Interference. This has changed significantly since the mid 1750’s Industrial Revolution and Population Increases as we have seen. This has resulted in increased Strengths in Hurricanes, Typhoons, Droughts, River and Reservoir Levels, Floods and Seasonal Changes all over the Planet. The North and South Poles and Countries are experiencing the melting of the Glaziers and Ice Sheets due to higher overall Planet Temperatures. It is estimated that 65% of the Planets Glaziers will have melted away by 2100. Much of the Mountain Ice provides ‘Fresh Water’ essential for all Life and Vegetation on land.

The Planets Diminishing Resources for Life on Land

The two most important Planet Resources for Life is ‘Fresh Water’ and ‘Food’. Without either of these Resources Life on Land will cease.

We have heard the saying ‘Supply and Demand’. The Supply of ‘Fresh Water’ and ‘Food’ is decreasing whilst the Demand from Humans ‘Fresh Water’ and ‘Food’ is increasing rapidly. Conclusion: Humans will die from ‘Thirst and Hunger’ as some are already doing so in parts of the world.

If the Humans cannot solve this problem there will be major conflicts between Humans for ‘Fresh Water’ and ‘Food’ as the Population continues to Increase ‘Fighting to Live’.

Humans must also consider although there will be Rainfall producing ‘Fresh Water’ nature itself including the Forests, Vegetation, Insects and Wild Animals that are still living will consume a bigger percentage of the ‘Fresh Water’ before it reaches the Rivers, Lakes and Reservoirs for Humans. Due to Climate Change Rainfall itself is unpredictable and contaminated by increasing Air Pollution.

Human Efforts to Address the Resource Problem.

Fresh Water:

Although Humans have developed some Desalination Plants (Sea Water to Fresh Water) mainly in the Middle East and parts of Africa these produce a minimal amount of Fresh Water and consume a great deal of Power heating the sea water. Generating that Power will at present create more CO². Other chemical orientated methods are being investigated but can these solutions produce water in volume that will be needed for the human race.

Food:

Farming is becoming more automated using new technology like Electric Autonomous Driverless Tractors (image) and Harvesting Machines. Farming Techniques are advancing and Water Conservation and Irrigation are improving Food Production. However, more Food means more Land required to grow it which is leading to Deforestation which is reducing the absorption of CO² by the Trees and erosion of the soil.

Indoor farming is increasing which use much less water and creates photosynthesis lighting effect to feed the plants. However, this technology is minute in comparison to traditional farming.

When you consider that the war in Ukraine which has reduced the amount of grain being exported has had a significant effect on feeding the world especially the poorer countries. Other food shortages such as fruit and vegetables even today in the UK and other countries have forced the supermarkets to start rationing to customers.

Food Overproduction and Wastage:

I feel that the most food overproduction is fish. I have seen so many times market stalls with huge amount of fish and there seems to be so many left when the stalls close. Over-fishing by large factory trawlers is depleting the seas of our fish stocks to quickly. So much food is being wasted especially in the more advance societies in the world, whilst others are starving. I saw an article very recently where a restaurant in the UK was stopped from giving excess stocks of fruit and vegetables away free.

Electrical Power:

So much of life today relies upon Electrical Power and the vision is to make more things operate using Electrical Power but there is a danger that Electrical Power Grids will not be able to cope with the extra demand. In addition as seen in Ukraine the Electrical Power Grids are extremely vulnerable including cyber attacks.

The Production of Electrical Power is increasingly coming from Renewables, such as ‘Wind Turbine Farms 5%’, ‘Solar Panels and Solar Farms 3%’. ‘Hydro 16%’ and ‘Nuclear 10%’. However although this is encouraging the Demand for Electrical Power is increasing rapidly. This increase is due to Electrification in place of Fossil Fuels. This is especially seen in the rapid manufacture of Electrical Vehicles, such as Cars, Lorries, Trains and Aircraft. This will reduce the amount of CO² but at what rate? The other factor is the Supply of ‘Cobalt’, ‘Lithium’, ‘Rare Earth’ and other minerals for making the Electrical Components is also limited.

One other possibility is the expanding development of Hydrogen driven Vehicles which could be an important alternative to Electrical Power, However, once again it takes Electrical Power to process the Hydrogen.

There is one very important scientific fact ‘ Energy cannot be created or destroyed’ but it can be transferred from one energy Source to another such as Wind Energy into Electrical Energy. However, energy is consumed by the machines therefore the efficiency of he output related to its input is decreased.

My Conclusion:

If we do not change the way Humans are living at present we, will in years to come see the eventual Demise of Humans in a relativity short space of time when compared to 4.5 Billion Years, yet our Planet Earth will still be here benefiting from the ‘Extinction of the Human Race’ and recovering to its former glory. Humans will become the Dinosaurs of the future.

These are my own thoughts, let’s hope I am wrong for the ‘Generations To Come’.