Issue Population growth translates into food, housing, migration and resource pressure

Summary

The Megatrends 2040 report explains that global population growth leads to greater needs for food and housing, more migration and the depletion of natural resources. It also contributes to urban impoverishment, rising pressure on the environment and climate stability, and higher energy demand. Quantifying these pressures, the report projects that agricultural output will need to double in four decades, water use will rise by 30% by 2030 and urban housing demand will grow by three billion people. The world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. The report argues that meeting these challenges requires radical lifestyle changes along with known and new technologies applied sustainably.