55. Population pressure: What do 8 billion people (and more) mean for the world’s resources and development?

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast talks about the growing global population and its implications for a sustainable future with Anu Peltola, who leads UNCTAD’s statistics work. The United Nations estimates there are now eight billion people on Earth, meaning the number of human beings has doubled in less than 50 years. People are living longer because of better medicine and nutrition. But a rising population presents many challenges around having enough food, water, energy, living space and public infrastructure for everyone.   The strains on societies, resources and the environment will only grow, especially for developing countries.  Listen to UNCTAD’s Anu Peltola to learn what our future holds in a more crowded world.