The history of humanity is filled with crises, epidemics, wars, and other issues. However, while people’s ancestors were concerned about ongoing wars, future generations and current populations are at risk of increasing food and freshwater shortages. The rising population of the Earth increases the necessity for more food supplies, and global warming consistently disrupts the weather conditions, which has a negative influence on growing and harvesting food. As a result, one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century is the food and water shortage, which might lead to violence and the death of many people.
Scientists were making predictions about the effects of shortages decades ago. For example, by 2030, the planet’s population will require 50% more food, 30% more power, and 30% more freshwater, according to the speech of scientist Sir John Beddington in 2009 (Quinlan, 2020). These objectives would be difficult to meet, particularly when drought and other factors are taken into account. Beddington projected that broad social upheaval, uncontrolled immigration, and geopolitical confrontations would be exacerbated by food and water crises (Quinlan, 2020). A related concern is how less rain would affect the greater producing grain types that are now preferred, as well as how more meat will be produced, which is less effective as a food source than vegetables, in order to fulfill rising demand that exceeds what is healthy for humans to consume (Quinlan, 2020). As a result, the combination of weather conditions, growing population, and increasing demand all contribute to food and water shortages.
Hence, the lack of food and water is one of the biggest problems of the 21st century, and it could cause violence and many fatalities. Food and water shortages would exacerbate widespread social unrest, unchecked immigration, and geopolitical conflicts. The reasons for such issues involve the weather patterns and the growing population that demands more food. While such issues are currently present, they are only predicted to exacerbate.
Reference
Quinlan, M. (2020). Five challenges to humanity: Learning from pattern/repeat failures in past disasters?The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 31(3), 444-466. Web.