Earth – Limited Life – Soon to Die

The end of Earth will likely come about because of the Sun in our solar system. This much you might already know, but we actually have an approximate date. Scientists estimate that the end of the world will happen about a billion years from now, specifically in the year 1,000,002,021. [28 Sept 2023]

https://en.as.com/latest_news/extinction-of-life-on-earth-estimated-date-according-to-nasa-and-international-experts-n/

A group of scientists, working alongside NASA and researchers from T?h? University in Japan, has determined a staggering timeline for the complete extinction of all life on Earth. According to advanced mathematical models powered by supercomputers, survival on our planet will become impossible in the year 1,000,002,021—a number almost too vast to comprehend.

The slow march toward the end

While this apocalyptic scenario is still nearly a billion years away, experts stress that it is an inevitability. The Sun, our life-giving star, will continue to grow in size and emit increasing amounts of thermal energy. Over time, this expansion will engulf the inner planets of the solar system, including Earth, leaving nothing in its wake. This process, long understood by astronomers, means that our planet’s days are ultimately numbered.

Despite this distant fate, space agencies around the world have already taken steps to explore potential solutions. Missions to Mars, for example, aim to assess the planet’s habitability, laying the groundwork for future colonization efforts. Billionaire Elon Musk has been outspoken about this ambition, stating that regardless of how long it takes, if SpaceX succeeds in getting humans to Mars, that will be his legacy.

The looming threat of solar storms

While Earth’s ultimate demise is far off, the Sun is already causing significant disturbances. In May of last year, NASA observed an intense surge of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) directed at Earth. These solar storms unleashed powerful bursts of charged particles and magnetic fields, triggering the most significant solar event in two decades. Scientists warn that such phenomena will continue to alter our atmosphere, gradually reducing oxygen levels and increasing global temperatures.

A BILLION years, and these “scientists” are talking about two decades and what will follow.
Increasing amounts of thermal energy from the Sun – such is against The Laws of Thermodynamics!
Reader, do you believe all this RUBBISH ?

Or perhaps you believe like Stephen Hawkins – 100 years maximum:

Stephen Hawkings has previously stated that our time on Earth is limited to 100 years, after originally estimating 1,000 years.

The astrophysicist died in 2018, but before his death, he gave us a warning about how humanity might fall, including a warning against trying to communicate with alien civilisations.

Stephen Hawkings final words were “there is no God “. As an atheist, he cannot be saved by Jesus.

The phrase “the Earth will wear out like a garment” is a Biblical metaphor found in Isaiah 51:6, Psalm 102:26, and Hebrews 1:11, signifying the temporary and perishable nature of the Earth and its inhabitants, contrasting with God’s eternal nature. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Biblical Context:

Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the HEAVENS, and look upon the EARTH beneath: for the HEAVENS SHALL VANISH AWAY LIKE SMOKE, and the EARTH SHALL WAX OLD LIKE A GARMENT, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished.

Psalm 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the EARTH: and the HEAVENS [are] the work of thy hands.

Psalm 102:26 THEY SHALL PERISH, but thou shalt endure: yea, ALL OF THEM SHALL WAX OLD LIKE A GARMENT; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the EARTH; and the HEAVENS are the works of thine hands:

Hebrews 1:11 THEY SHALL PERISH; but thou remainest; and THEY ALL SHALL WAX OLD AS DOTH A GARMENT;

Metaphor of the Garment:

The image of a garment wearing out symbolizes the ageing, decay, and eventual demise of the Earth and its inhabitants.

In ancient times, garments were valuable but eventually wore out and needed replacement, reflecting the idea of the Earth’s temporality.

Contrast with God’s Eternity:

The phrase contrasts the perishable nature of the world with the imperishable nature of God’s kingdom.

It emphasizes that while the Earth and its inhabitants will eventually fade away, God will remain.

Other Translations:

Some translations use variations like “wax old like a garment” or “become threadbare like an old coat”.

The Laws of Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics states energy is conserved, meaning it can’t be created or destroyed, only transformed; the Second Law states entropy (disorder) in an isolated system always increases; and the Third Law states that a system’s entropy approaches a minimum value as its temperature approaches absolute zero. Here’s a more detailed explanation of each law:

First Law of Thermodynamics (Conservation of Energy): This law states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant; it can’t be created or destroyed, but can be converted from one form to another. In simpler terms, if a system gains energy, its surroundings must lose the same amount, and vice versa.

Second Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy): This law deals with the concept of entropy, which is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. The Second Law states that the entropy of an isolated system will always increase over time, meaning that natural processes tend towards greater disorder.

Third Law of Thermodynamics (Absolute Zero): This law states that as the temperature of a system approaches absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -273.15°C), the entropy of the system approaches a minimum value (usually zero). In other words, at absolute zero, a perfect crystal would be in its most ordered state.

Yes, mankind, like all physical systems and organisms, is subject to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of a closed system always increases over time, meaning that energy transformations are never perfectly efficient and some energy is always lost as heat. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

The Second Law of Thermodynamics: This law describes the tendency of systems to move towards a state of greater disorder or randomness, known as entropy.

Entropy Increase: When energy is transferred or transformed, some energy is always lost as heat, which increases the entropy of the surrounding system.

Mankind as a Physical System: Humans, as physical systems, are not closed systems, meaning they exchange energy and matter with their environment. However, the processes within the human body, like metabolism and movement, are subject to the same thermodynamic principles as any other physical process.

Life and Entropy: While living organisms appear to maintain order and complexity, this is achieved by constantly importing energy and expelling waste heat, thereby increasing the overall entropy of the universe.

The Earth is not a closed system: The Earth receives constant energy from the Sun and radiates energy back into space, so it is not a thermally isolated system.

Examples:

Metabolism: The body uses energy from food to function, but some energy is always lost as heat, increasing the entropy of the surrounding environment.

Movement: When you move, your muscles convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, but some energy is also lost as heat, increasing overall entropy.

Ageing and Death: Ultimately, the body’s complex structures and processes degrade over time, leading to death, which is a natural consequence of the second law of thermodynamics.

So, what is everyone saying regarding the state of our planet, Earth:

https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo302#:~:text=Combining%20current%20knowledge%20of%20the,the%20next%2010%E2%80%9340%20years.

Combining current knowledge of the reserves of some key metals, the locations of the ores, the technology they are used for and the degree of recycling, it becomes apparent that many metals that we rely on are likely to become so scarce that they could be considered to ‘run out’ in the next 10–40 years.

Historically, however, demand for rare Earths has risen at a rate of about 10 percent per year. If demand continued to grow at this rate and no recycling of produced rare Earths were undertaken, known world reserves likely would be exhausted sometime after the mid-21st century.

One of the main challenges of rare Earth metals is the current dependency on China to supply several regions of the world with rare Earth elements – seeing as China is responsible for 98% of the European Union’s demand for rare Earth metals.

Over 200 copper mines are expected to run out of ore before 2035, with not enough new mines in the pipeline to take their place.

Experts predict that the demand for silver will outpace the supply in 2024 by 176 million ounces. This deficit accounts for a decrease to the deficit from 2023 (194 million ounces), but still represents large-scale shortages in the need for silver.

China holds the world’s largest known reserves of rare Earth minerals, estimated at 44 million metric tons, and is also the leading producer, controlling about 70% of global rare Earth mineral processing.

While the term “rare Earth metals” suggests they are scarce, many are actually quite common in the Earth’s crust, but they are difficult to extract and concentrate, leading to potential supply challenges as demand increases, especially for technologies like electric vehicles. Here’s a more detailed explanation: What are “Rare Earth Metals” (REMs)?

Not truly rare: The name “rare Earth metals” is a bit misleading; they are actually quite common in the Earth’s crust.

Difficult to extract: The challenge lies in the fact that they are not found in large, concentrated deposits, making extraction and purification difficult and expensive.

Key for modern technology: REMs are essential for a wide range of technologies, including electronics, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

China’s dominance: China currently dominates the production of REMs, raising concerns about supply chain security and geopolitical tensions.

Increasing demand: Demand for REMs is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, driven by the transition to clean energy and electric vehicles.

Why are there supply concerns?

Geopolitical risks: China’s dominance in REM production creates a vulnerability for countries reliant on these metals.

Environmental impact of mining: REM extraction can have significant environmental consequences, including pollution and habitat destruction.

Long lead times for new mines: Building new mines and refining facilities takes a long time, which can exacerbate supply shortages.

Recycling is crucial: Recycling e-waste and other sources of REMs can help alleviate the shortage and reduce the environmental impact of mining.

Examples of rare Earth metals: Some examples of rare Earth metals include neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium, which are used in magnets, LEDs, and other technologies.

Examples of precious metals: Platinum, osmium, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, and rhodium are some examples of precious metals.

The rarest mineral on Earth, with only one known specimen, is kyawthuite, a transparent, reddish-orange mineral found near Mogok, Myanmar.

Here’s a more detailed look:

Rarity: Kyawthuite is incredibly rare, with only one specimen ever discovered, making it a unique and exclusive piece in the mineralogical community.

Discovery: The single specimen was found in the Mogok region of Myanmar and was purchased in 2010 by gemologist Kyaw Thu, who initially thought it was scheelite.

Chemical Composition: Kyawthuite is the only known natural oxide of bismuth and antimony, with the formula Bi3+Sb5+O4.

Current Location: The only known specimen is currently on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Other rare minerals: Painite, which appears as deep red hexagonal crystals, is another very rare mineral, but it is now more easily found than it used to be.

https://www.quora.com/What-natural-resources-on-Earth-are-projected-to-run-out-within-the-next-10-20-years

What natural resources on Earth are projected to run out within the next 10-20 years?

The resource most under threat is fresh water, bizarre for a planet mostly covered by water. But droughts, rising sea levels and over-used aquifers could cause serious problems, if they aren’t already. Floods are another problem as they invariably muck up potable water supplies and both they and droughts are increasingly likely in the future.

The arable soil: The Food & Agriculture Organisation warn that at the rate we are destroying soils and failing to create new, we are staring down the muzzle of only 60-odd harvests globally, which means things may get right dodgy as we approach the deadline, as we won’t have plenty of food in year 59 then nothing in year 60.

That is an illustration that, technically, we don’t run out of anything. As the resource depletes, the price rises and we are forced to seek less and less attractive sources, as is already happening with oil. In this context ‘depletes’ may mean the main supply is still plentiful but is less available, either because the countries involved are politically unstable or are stockpiling their reserves. Copper, lithium and Rare Earths could fall into these categories.

The Earth’s surface is constantly worn down through natural processes like weathering and erosion, which are caused by water, wind, ice, and gravity, leading to the reshaping of landscapes and the movement of sediments.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Weathering:

This is the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface.

Physical Weathering: Involves processes like temperature changes, ice wedging, and plant roots, which can cause rocks to crack and crumble.

Chemical Weathering: Involves chemical reactions, like the dissolving of rocks by acidic rainwater, which can alter the composition of rocks and minerals.

Erosion:

Erosion is comprised of natural, physical, and chemical processes by which the Earth’s rocks and soil are continuously worn down. Running water is a major cause of erosion. Stones carried with a river’s current scour and abrade the banks and beds.

This is the process by which soil and rock particles are transported from one place to another.

Water Erosion: Rainfall and flowing water can dislodge soil particles and carry them away, particularly on slopes and in rivers.

Wind Erosion: Wind can pick up loose soil and rock particles and transport them over long distances.

Ice Erosion: Glaciers and ice sheets can carve out landforms and transport large amounts of sediment.

Gravitational Erosion: This involves the movement of rocks and sediments due to gravity, such as landslides.

Deposition:

Once eroded material is transported, it is eventually deposited in another location, which can lead to the formation of new landforms.

Examples of Erosion:

The Grand Canyon is a prime example of how water erosion can carve out massive landforms over time.

Coastal erosion is a constant process where waves and currents wear away shorelines.

Wind erosion can lead to the formation of sand dunes and deserts.

Human Impact:

Human activities like deforestation, intensive agriculture, and construction can accelerate erosion rates, leading to soil degradation and other environmental problems.

By 2040, if current trends continue, we could face significant scarcity in freshwater, arable land, and potentially certain metals and minerals, particularly those crucial for the energy transition. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Freshwater: The majority of global freshwater supplies could be exhausted by 2040 if conservation efforts are not ramped up significantly. Water demand is already exceeding population growth, and supply is declining in terms of both quantity and quality.

Arable Land: The Food & Agriculture Organisation warns that at the rate we are destroying soils and failing to create new, we are staring down the muzzle of only 60-odd harvests globally.

Metals and Minerals: The energy transition, with its increased demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy technologies, will put a strain on the supply of certain metals and minerals like copper, aluminium, and lithium.

Fossil Fuels: While not a “run out” scenario by 2040, the continued reliance on fossil fuels could lead to their depletion in the latter half of the century, with oil potentially lasting up to 50 years, natural gas up to 53 years, and coal up to 114 years at current consumption rates.

Other Resources: Phosphorus, used for fertilization in modern agriculture, might also see a dwindling supply by as early as 2030, affecting global food supplies.

Air Quality: Liveable air and environmental quality is also expected to become a scarcer resource than it is already.

Unless water use is drastically reduced, severe water shortage will affect the entire planet by 2040.

https://www.acted.org/en/preparing-for-2040/

The report warns that, by 2040, global temperatures are expected to rise 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, meaning that most people alive today will see the dramatic effects of climate change within their lifetime.

https://fortune.com/2022/03/01/resource-scarcity-new-report-bank-of-america/

The resources that will be most scarce in the future, according to the report, are water, biodiversity and air, rare Earth and metals, agriculture, waste disposal, processing power, youth, health and wellness, skills and education, and time.

The world is not enough for us, or at least it won’t be if we keep using up so much of it.

While the global population doubled in the second half of the 20th century, food grain production tripled and energy consumption quadrupled.

A new research report by Bank of America, which is not yet publicly available, has pinpointed the 10 biggest areas where resource scarcity is set to affect global markets over the next few decades. Some of them, like fresh water or liveable air, are unsurprising. But others, like Health Care services, attention spans, and free time, paint a grim picture of the future.

Water, agriculture, and air

If conservation efforts are not ramped up significantly, the majority of global freshwater supplies might be exhausted by 2040, according to BofA [Bank of America]. Phosphorus, which is used for fertilization in modern agriculture, also might see a dwindling supply by as early as 2030, affecting global food supplies.

Liveable air and environmental quality is also expected to become a scarcer resource than it already is. The report estimates that air pollution already kills more people worldwide than AIDS, malaria, diabetes, or tuberculosis, while mismanaged waste disposal kills over 1 million people a year.

Metals, waste, and processing power

As demand rises to record highs for rare-earth metals used in technology from solar panels to smartphones, those supplies are getting used up as well, according to the research, mainly because recycling infrastructure for electronic devices is still not up to par.

“We generate about 50 million tons of e-waste every year,” the report reads. “That is the equivalent of throwing out 1,000 laptops every second.”

Some of these metals, such as lithium and nickel, might see demand exceed supply by as early as 2024, but the demand for metals overall could increase sixfold by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental energy watchdog. These components are critical to a transition toward renewable energy.

The BofA report predicts that we will need to power over 1 trillion electronic devices by 2035, which could create another shortage of semiconductor chips worldwide, a problem we have already become well-acquainted with.

Youth and health

While issues related to water and mineral scarcity have been well-documented for a while, the new report highlights another important area of resource scarcity that has received substantially less attention: human capital.

“We have already reached peak youth, with grandparents outnumbering grand-children worldwide,” the report reads, highlighting record-low birth rates in the U.S. and China. Older populations will place a strain on Health Care systems and make adequate health services more scarce on average.

The report found that in 2022, there were more grandparents than children in North America, and more people age 65 and older than people ages 15 or younger. It predicts a population peak of 10 billion people in 2064 followed by a gradual decline.

Scarcity of health services will also be affected by a dearth of Health Care workers. The report estimates that there will be 18 million fewer Health Care workers in 2030 than there are now. Impoverished countries will be the most impacted by a scarcity of Health Care workers.

Time and skills

And some of the most mind-bending parts of the research aren’t about physical commodities, but about how people’s time, attention spans, and efficiency might become scarcer as well.

As our virtual lives become more immersive through emerging metaverse technologies, BofA predicts that our available time and efficiency might be hitting record-low levels.

The trend has already begun.

“We spend 1/3 of our waking time staring at screens and swiping on apps—that is 11+ years in a lifetime including 3 years spent on social media,” the report reads.

In addition to less time, lost efficiency will be compounded by scarcer valuable skills as educational institutions will not be able to keep up with the evolving demands of rapidly changing technologies. The report estimates that 1 billion people will need to be reskilled by 2030 because of technological disruption. Over the next several decades, it predicts that skill scarcity will cost the world $8.5 trillion, more than the current combined GDP of Germany and Japan.

Transformative solutions

But even if humans are using up the world at record speed, there are things we can do to safeguard against resource scarcity.

The research identifies transitioning toward a more circular economy, where waste is minimized and restorative or regenerative economic processes are prioritized, as an essential step, as right now 99% of the items humans harvest, mine, process, and transport ends up in the trash in less than six months.

Innovative technologies to reduce waste and ensure the world lives within the means of what the planet can provide are what the report terms “scarcity tech.” These solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and more efficient and clean energy generation technology, can help balance supply and demand more sustainably.

“A transforming world needs transformative solutions,” the report reads. The report claims that scarcity tech would make sure that we do not live as exceedingly beyond our means as humans have done in the past.

https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/international/what-are-fossil-fuels-and-when-will-they-run-out/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20MAHB%2C%20the,gas%20to%20last%2084%20years.

According to the MAHB [Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere], the world’s oil reserves will run out by 2052, natural gas by 2060 and coal by 2090. The U.S. Energy Information Association said in 2019 that the United States has enough natural gas to last 84 years.

https://savetheelephants.org/news/wwf-says-african-elephants-will-be-extinct-by-2040-if-we-don-t-act-right-away/

WWF says African elephants will be extinct by 2040 if we don’t act right away. The African elephant will disappear within two decades if urgent action is not taken to save one of the world’s most iconic animal species, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has warned in a new campaign fundraiser.

The population of these elephants—the largest animal currently walking the Earth—has declined by 70 percent in the last 40 years, in large part because of the illegal ivory trade, which is the biggest driver of elephant poaching, according to the non-profit.

In fact, 20,000 elephants are killed every year to feed this trade—which is equivalent to one death every 26 minutes.

https://www.quora.com/What-natural-resources-on-Earth-are-projected-to-run-out-within-the-next-10-20-years

Several natural resources are projected to face significant depletion within the next 10-20 years due to increasing demand, unsustainable extraction practices, and environmental changes. Here are some key resources:

Freshwater: Many regions are experiencing severe water scarcity due to over-extraction, pollution, and climate change. Groundwater levels are declining, particularly in areas reliant on aquifers for agriculture and drinking water.

Phosphorus: Essential for fertilizers, phosphorus reserves are limited and concentrated in a few countries. Overuse and inefficient agricultural practices are depleting accessible phosphorus, raising concerns about food security.

Fossil Fuels: While estimates vary, certain oil and natural gas fields are projected to be depleted within the next few decades. Coal reserves are also under pressure due to environmental regulations and market shifts towards renewable energy.

Rare Earth Elements: These are crucial for many high-tech applications, including electronics and renewable energy technologies. The extraction and processing of these elements are environmentally damaging, and geopolitical issues may affect their availability.

Forests: Deforestation, driven by agriculture and logging, is leading to significant loss of forest resources. This impacts biodiversity, carbon storage, and local climates.

Soil: Soil degradation from overuse, erosion, and contamination threatens agricultural productivity. The loss of arable land could lead to food shortages.

Marine Resources: Overfishing is depleting fish stocks faster than they can replenish, threatening marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing.

Sand and Gravel: Used extensively in construction, these materials are being extracted at unsustainable rates, leading to environmental degradation and shortages in some regions.

Addressing the depletion of these resources requires sustainable management practices, technological innovation, and international cooperation to ensure their availability for future generations.

https://climatefactchecks.org/global-climate-efforts-falter-as-95-of-nations-miss-un-deadline-for-2035-emissions-pledges/

In a stark reminder of the uphill battle to combat climate change, nearly 95% of countries have failed to meet a critical United Nations deadline to submit updated emissions-cutting plans for 2035. Only 10 out of 195 nations party to the Paris Agreement have published their new climate pledges, raising concerns about the world’s ability to meet the ambitious goals set to limit global warming. With major polluters like China, India, and the European Union yet to finalise their plans, the delay threatens to undermine global efforts to avert a climate catastrophe.

https://www.langdonmorris.com/news/the-world-in-2035

Climate change is a slow-motion disaster of our own making, one that has come about as a consequence of the ways that the human economy exploits the resources and systems of the natural world. It’s now at very forefront of our concerns, so whereas a century ago it was not a common topic for discussion, today it’s one of the most critical issues facing humanity and we discuss it incessantly. Will we develop resilience to the changing climate and adapt to its rigorous demands, or will we experience widespread economic and social collapse as nations and regions succumb to the mounting challenges of a malicious climate?

There are 8 Critical Driving Forces – Geopolitics Politics Climate Energy Science & Technology Economy Demographics Culture – each one always being connected and linked to the other seven.

https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/in-full/paste-test/

Comparing the two- and 10-year time-frames in more detail reveals a markedly deteriorating global risks landscape. All 33 risks surveyed increase in severity score over the long term compared to the short term, reflecting respondents’ concerns about the heightened frequency or intensity of these risks over the course of the 10-year horizon.

Environmental and, to a lesser degree, technological risks dominate the long-term global risks landscape according to the GRPS. In fact, nearly all environmental risks are included in the top 10. Extreme weather events are anticipated to become even more severe, with the risk ranked first over the next decade for the second year running. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse ranks #2, up from #3 last year and with a significant deterioration compared to its two-year ranking (#21). Critical change to Earth systems at #3, Natural resource shortages at #4 and Pollution at #10 complete the very bleak outlook for environmental risks.

Technological risks fare little better than environmental risks over the next 10 years. Adverse outcomes of AI technologies follows Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse as one of the risks expected to increase in severity the most from the two-year to the 10-year time-frame, ranking #6 on the 10-year risk outlook compared to #31 on the two-year risk outlook.

Pollution at a crossroads

Short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane are accelerating the pace of climate change.

Freshwater and ocean pollution are severely impacting human and ecosystem health, with antimicrobial pollution emerging as an increasing concern.

Nitrogen and waste pollution are becoming more costly, generating a range of health and ecosystem impacts.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics

The world is currently producing more than 430 million tonnes of plastic annually. Each year, 19 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into the environment – 13 million onto land and six million into rivers and coastlines. Plastic does not biodegrade, and over 99% of plastic is directly derived from fossil fuels. Plastic Pollution in aquatic environments includes Pollution from shipping and fishing.

Microplastics – pieces of plastic of less than five millimetres wide – include plastics originally manufactured to be that size (‘primary microplastics’), for example microbeads, industrial plastic powders and pellets, but also pieces of plastic that have resulted from the degradation and fragmentation of larger items, for example plastic bottles, synthetic textiles and tyres. The World Health Organization (WHO) concludes that although further work is required to understand the impacts of microplastics on human and biodiversity health, their presence has been detected both in our bodies and in the air, causing rising concern.

Microplastics also affect the soil ecosystem and restrict the growth of plants, both in marine and freshwater settings. Nanoplastics – pieces of plastic even smaller than microplastics at 100-1,000 nanometers wide – are an emerging area of high risk, as there is an increased chance of them being ingested, inhaled or absorbed.

Chemicals present in plastics are endocrine disrupting, interfering with hormone actions in the body. These chemicals can be released during the entire life cycle, with more than 13,000 chemical substances identified. This is an area of emerging research and concern given that endocrine-disrupting chemicals are linked to significant health effects including infertility, obesity, cancer, thyroid problems and developmental issues.

Nitrogen

Industrial agriculture has long been dependent on nitrogenous fertilizers to increase productivity. This has resulted in Nitrogen Pollution becoming a major contaminant of soil, water and air. A key part of the problem is that the more these fertilizers are used to increase crop yields, the more is lost to the environment, escaping into water and the atmosphere, the latter as ammonia.

If groundwater becomes contaminated with nitrogen it can become a health issue. For example, high nitrate levels in drinking water can cause reproductive problems, methemoglobinemia, colorectal cancer, thyroid disease and neural tube defects. Nitrogen in rivers flows into the sea causing eutrophication of coastal waters, a phenomenon generating various seawater health issues. Recent evidence shows that eutrophication is a problem that is on a worsening trend. [Eutrophication is a general term describing a process in which nutrients accumulate in a body of water, resulting in an increased growth of organisms that may deplete the oxygen in the water. Eutrophication may occur naturally or as a result of human actions.]

Livestock manure and fertilizers in agriculture are responsible for 81% of ammonia emissions into the air globally. That contributes to 50% (in the EU) and 30% (in the United States) of PM2.5 air Pollution, causing chronic illnesses that can lead to premature mortality. Livestock manure and fertilizer use also leads to nitrous oxide production, a potent GHG, and the most important substance for the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, with implications for the increased occurrence of skin cancer.

Super-ageing societies

Pension crises will start to bite over the next decade in super-ageing societies as dependency ratios rise further and government finances are stretched.

Labour shortages in several sectors, in particular long-term care, are likely to become a characteristic of super-ageing societies unless policies shift.

Super-ageing societies will pose global economic and labour-market challenges, even for countries still benefiting from their demographic dividend.

Countries are termed “super-ageing” or “super- aged” when over 20% of their populations are over 65 years old. Several countries have already exceeded that mark, led by Japan and including some countries in Europe. Many more countries across Europe and Eastern Asia in particular are projected do so by 2035. Globally, the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to increase by 36%, from 857 million in 2025 to 1.2 billion in 2035.

By 2035, populations in super-ageing societies could be experiencing a set of interconnected and cascading risks that underscore the GRPS finding that the severity – albeit not the ranking – of the risk of Insufficient public infrastructure and social protections is expected to rise from the two-year to the 10-year time horizon. An ongoing concern is that government funding for public infrastructure and social protections gets diverted during short-term crises.

Some super-ageing societies could be facing crises in their state pensions systems as well as in employer and private pensions, leading to more financial insecurity in old age and exacerbated pressure on the labour force, which includes a growing number of unpaid caregivers. Indeed, super-ageing societies by 2035 are likely to face labour shortages.

Ranked second globally according to the EOS [Entrepreneurial Operating System], labour and talent shortage is selected as the top risk in Europe and Eastern Asia, where super-ageing is most pronounced. Twenty-one countries place the risk in first place, including two of the most super-ageing societies, Japan and Germany, while 40 other economies view it as one of the top five risks

Pension crises

Over the next decade the pensions crises and their implications will start hitting home in super- ageing societies, as it becomes clear that current state pension systems were designed for a much younger demographic with fewer years of retirement that needed funding. But it is not only state pension systems that will be struggling.

Many employees are moving from Defined Benefits to Defined Contribution schemes – putting the onus on the individual to come up with strategies for saving over a lifetime. However, for many people this can be challenging as they may have insufficient income, lack the requisite financial understanding, or fail to make good early decisions about savings and retirement.

As dependency ratios rise, fewer people will be contributing to employer and private pensions schemes relative to the number of people whose retirements need funding, and with the length of those retirements rising. This will put pressure on institutional pension funds, some of which may seek to increase their returns by allocating higher proportions of their assets to riskier investments, such as crypto assets, private credit or other alternative investments. These riskier investments will not always pay off, and over time this could worsen the already suboptimal funding ratios of some of these institutions. If there are extended periods of market underperformance, this could lead to many more individuals facing shortfalls in funding their retirement.

The pension gaps in super-ageing societies will be exacerbated by the long-term impacts of the rise of the “gig economy” and the associated failure to make sufficient pensions contributions during periods of gig work. Pension shortfalls will also disproportionately affect lower-income workers who have not managed to make significant savings during their careers, even if they have been fully employed. In the EU, for example, already today one in five elderly people face the risk of poverty or social exclusion and this figure is set to rise by 2035.

Women on average have significantly higher pensions gaps than men given time taken out of formal employment over the course of their careers to care for children or elderly relatives, as well as their lower average pay compared to men. In the EU, women’s pensions are nearly 30% lower than those of men, meaning that they are at a 35% higher risk of poverty.

The societal implications of insufficient public infrastructure and social protections, such as pensions and care systems, which reveals that Inequality was selected by GRPS respondents as a significant connected risk.

A common proposal for alleviating the pensions crisis in super-ageing societies is raising the statutory retirement age, and in some countries this has already occurred. However, attempts to do this to the extent needed to stem the pension crises will face resistance from voters, a rising proportion of whom are themselves close to retirement. This segment of the population tends to have high voter turnout, making it increasingly likely that policy outcomes will be in their favour. Intergenerational tensions could become an ongoing feature of super- ageing societies, with discontented younger working cohorts resenting being called upon to pay more towards funding retiree pensions.

There is also a gap between what global executives believe needs to be done to adjust pension schemes and what they view as businesses’ responsibilities. One-quarter of global executives (25%) support policy changes to pension schemes and retirement ages, but a lower share (14%) of executives view such measures as an effective business practice for expanding their talent base, as reported in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. This illustrates the complexity of aligning key stakeholder interests behind pension reforms.

Even if official retirement ages can be increased, the impact on reducing the scale of the pension crises may be smaller than hoped for. Some people do not manage to work to their expected retirement age, as their working lives are cut short by illness or disability, job loss or other reasons. The inability to extend retirement age is an especially significant risk for people in physically demanding jobs. However, many would like to be upskilled or reskilled to be able to extend their careers.

Long-term Care crunch

In super-ageing societies, the balance between public sector, private sector and family support in the provision of long-term care is varied. The predominant case globally is that government healthcare and social services, and other government financial assistance for retirees, play important roles. In high-income countries with less of a contribution by the public sector, more of a role is played by private insurance, private care facilities, and home care services.

Given the rising demand for its services, the Care sector overall is set to need many more workers by 2035. In the United States, for example, demand for long-term care services and support workers alone is projected to grow by 44% from 2020-2035. This rising demand needs to be set against an environment in which staff are often underpaid and overworked. Unless long-term care providers can find ways to improve pay and working conditions, the risk of labour shortages in the sector will only rise. Market forces can lead to more private-sector provision of long-term care filling some of the void. However, for many families, paying for private long-term care will remain out of reach financially.

Immigration into super-ageing societies is already playing a role in addressing the sector’s labour needs. However, migrant workers are over-represented in the less regulated areas of the care economy, such as home-based care and domestic work, and earn nearly 13% less than the national average. The political climate around immigration is strained and may become more so over the coming years, with anti-immigration policies becoming more mainstream in several super-ageing societies.

Similarly, over a 10-year time-frame, there is only so much that increased labour-force participation in super-ageing societies can contribute to addressing the long-term Care crunch. Attracting more women to enter the formal workforce can play a role. However, the balance of incentives available to women needs rethinking for there to be a meaningful change in female labour-force participation. Women currently provide two-thirds of unpaid work worldwide, which keeps 708 million of them from joining the labour force.

Without meaningful transformation of the Care sector and its resourcing, the scope for either immigration or increased labour force participation to solve the long-term Care crunch over the next 10 years remains limited. Governments and companies may be tempted to turn to technology in an effort to increase sectoral productivity. This can involve everything from automated reminders to take pills, to chatbots responding to medical queries and robots delivering meals, ideally freeing up time for more social interactions wherever possible. But while these and other technologies may help optimize care delivery and reach, demand for care skills and jobs is likely to be far from fully met by technological innovation.

Conclusion

As we have seen from the above, mankind is faced with so many problems that it is not possible for society to correct these matters. Mankind talks about recycling to delay the inevitable problems but on this, like all other fronts, failure occurs. Witness the climate proposals.

There is no human solution. Like those stupid scientists, they are merely talking among themselves and fighting against the Laws of Thermodynamics.

From the above, we have seen many examples of things having a life-span measured in a few years, a decade or more. Clearly, our world is accelerating in all respects – witness the world population – and if Stephen Hawkings had lived another 7 years then, in all probability, he would have again reduced his estimate for the time of Earth.

God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are in control – not mankind – and soon our whole world will witness to this fact.

In all probability, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will occur at the Feast of Trumpets – (Rosh Hashanah) – End of Tishrei 1, 5798 – September 11, 2037. This is in the evening of the 10th September, between Jerusalem’s sunset and moonset times; sometime in that 48 minutes 19 seconds span of time between 6:52:16 PM and 7:40:35 PM, [Jerusalem time]. Sunset on the September 10th being the start of September 11th, 2037. Jesus Christ will probably come at 7.00 PM again. God / Jesus are very exact and often uses 7’s.

For more information right click upon the following web-pages:

https://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=3069

https://www.godswordexplained.com/?page_id=3095

God's Word Explained

Pages

Earth – Limited Life – Soon to Die