vtsnowedin wrote: Perhaps a final goal of getting down to two to three billion determined by how well the rest of the environment is doing. A truly sustainable population would be the goal.
I have done lots of study in the past decade here and there on population because I am a student of the decline process. A population of 1BIL with people consuming around 1900 levels seems to be the best estimate of a longer-term carrying capacity. If we consider a more realistic population/consumption level considering a less rigorous carrying capacity restraint then a 1930 population of 2BIL seems optimal. That level still allows a great deal of specialization required for modernism. It is likely too much for a good carrying capacity longer term at a human/planet optimum but it is conceivable humans could green up dramatically with activity guided by green wisdom. The materializing step down from globalism1 to globalism2 could halt population growth rates significantly because of emerging food productivity issues. The forecasts of the past for food production increases for 11BIL people is totally unrealistic. I feel like 7BIL is a population ceiling considering global output may be hit 30% and may not recover to pre-pandemic levels IOW peak globalism means peak population.