Recalls predictions made on first Earth Day

On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the nation paused to consider the impact of human activity on the global environment.

The greatest threat — as seen that day — was the prospect that future generations would run out of food, fuel and natural resources. Neither global warming nor population growth was on the environmental radar.

The following predictions were made that day:

Paul Ehrlich, author of “The Population Bomb,” predicted that 4 billion people — including 65 million Americans — would starve to death between 1980 and 1989.

Life Magazine wrote: ” … by 1985 air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one-half.”

Ecologist Kenneth Watt said: “The world has been chilling sharply for about two years. If present trends continue, the world will be about 4 degrees colder for the global mean temperature in 1990, but 11 degrees colder in the year 2000. This is about twice what it would take to put us into an ice age.”

Watt also stated: “By the year 2000, if present trends continue, we will be using up crude oil at such a rate … that there won’t be any more crude oil.”

None of these apocalyptic prophecies came to pass. Forty years from now, how will today’s predictions be seen?

Charles LaPiene

Granby

]]>