limits to growth

The belief, based on computer calculations, that the steadily rising population growth combined with the rapid depletion of the Earth's natural resources will lead to environmental catastrophe.

This prediction was first propounded in the 1970s by the Club of Rome. As a solution they advocated zero population growth, the reduction of output, and an emphasis on food production and recycling. The authors issued further appraisals in Beyond the Limits (1993) and The Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Global Update (2004), reiterating the urgent need for rapid readjustment and sustainability.