Are there too many people? A head-to-head debate on overpopulation

Tue 31 March 2015

Divinity School, St John's College

The human population has increased seven fold in just over 200 years, exceeding 7 billion in 2011. The global population is expected to continue to rise in the coming decades, with the United Nations predicting numbers to reach between 8.3 billion and 10.8 billion in 2050.

But is population growth really a problem, or is the real issue wealthy countries consuming resources at an incredible rate? Will population growth cause widespread shortages of food and energy or will technological innovations allow us to overcome this? And should the government be adopting policies to tackle population growth here in the UK?

Event programme
Chair:
Professor Dame Athene Donald, Cambridge University

Confirmed speakers:
Fred Pearce, author and journalist on environmental issues.
Fiona McKenzie, Trustee, Population Matters

Doors open at 6.45pm for a 7pm start.

Cost: Free