environmental story
Good afternoon, it is a pleasure to have you join us for this reflection. Let's consider how far humanity has come since the beginning. Planet Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, while Homo sapiens, or wise man, emerged around 300,000 years ago in Africa. Our journey began with urbanization as we spread across the globe, tending to our homes and communities. However, the industrial revolution brought significant changes, impacting the world as we know it today. Reflecting on population growth, it took nearly 298,000 years to reach 200 million inhabitants, but only 1,800 years to grow to 1 billion. The pace accelerated, taking just 100 years to double to 2 billion, and another 100 years to reach 6 billion. In the last 18 years alone, we added 1.6 billion people, bringing the total to 7.6 billion. Such exponential growth raises concerns about sustainability. To put this into perspective, consider that since the year 2018, approximately 1 billion minutes have passed since the time of Jesus Christ. Our population has tripled in size since my father's birth, and by the time my niece reaches my father's age, it will have grown even more. With 225,000 new individuals added to the planet daily, the demand for resources like water, food, and living space continues to rise. The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in meeting these needs, but it also impacts biodiversity and ecosystems. Converting forests to farmland reduces the number of species supported, with monoculture practices further limiting diversity. Deforestation, equivalent to 800,000 square kilometers annually, poses a significant threat to our environment. Moreover, the oceans suffer from pollution, with eight million tons of waste entering them each year. Plastic pollution, in particular, harms marine life, endangering species like turtles and seabirds. The infamous plastic islands in the oceans, some as large as Western Europe, serve as stark reminders of our impact on the environment. By 2050, the majority of the global population will reside in urban areas, disconnected from nature's beauty and fragility. It is essential to consider our relationship with the environment and the consequences of our actions. As we navigate the challenges of a growing population and resource depletion, preserving nature's balance becomes increasingly urgent.