IRVINE : ‘5 Billion’s a Crowd’ Focus of Discussion

Werner Fornos, president of the Washington-based Population Institute, will discuss the problems posed by the continuing world population explosion today at UC Irvine.

With more than half the world’s 5 billion people entering their reproductive years in the next generation, severe shortages of food, shelter and water are likely, say officials for the nonprofit institute.

By the year 2000, according to the institute, nearly half the world’s forests will be gone; one-fifth the world’s plant and animal species will be extinct; the air will contain 33% more carbon dioxide, which causes global warming; regional fresh water shortages will increase 35%, and agricultural lands will continue to disappear, forcing greater population shifts to overcrowded cities.

In his talk, “Gaining People Losing Ground,” Fornos will discuss strategies for stabilizing the world population growth rate.

The event is free and begins at 3:30 p.m. in Room 220 of the Social Science Tower. A question-and-answer session will follow. Call (714) 856-6410 for details.