50 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
to be non-reversible tendencies. A central question, however, is if and to
what degree the poorer and uneducated, mainly rural, groups will adopt
the small family model that urban societies follow, a model that presupposes a higher educational and economic level. For the time being, a large
and increasing number of people lack the necessary education, health and
family planning services.
4
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
2050
2045
5
6
7
8
11
Billions
9
10
High 10.6
Middle 8.9
Low 7.4
High 2.5
Middle 2.0
Low 1.5
Natality in 2050
Figure 3.13 Predicted human population sizes: three scenarios. (From Hadjibiros 2007,
Ecology. Ecosystems and Environmental Protection, 3rd edition. Symmetria,
Athens www.unfpa.org. With permission.)
to be non-reversible tendencies. A central question, however, is if and to
what degree the poorer and uneducated, mainly rural, groups will adopt
the small family model that urban societies follow, a model that presupposes a higher educational and economic level. For the time being, a large
and increasing number of people lack the necessary education, health and
family planning services.
4
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
2050
2045
5
6
7
8
11
Billions
9
10
High 10.6
Middle 8.9
Low 7.4
High 2.5
Middle 2.0
Low 1.5
Natality in 2050
Figure 3.13 Predicted human population sizes: three scenarios. (From Hadjibiros 2007,
Ecology. Ecosystems and Environmental Protection, 3rd edition. Symmetria,
Athens www.unfpa.org. With permission.)