Futures Lab Russia, July 2021, invited Integral City to imagine cities in 100 years. This series of blogs comprises the lecture that was offered by Marilyn Hamilton PhD, Founder of Integral Cities.

Figure 3: Human Population Growth Past & Future (Page & Johnson, 2011)

Population Growth

MH: Now I have a better idea of the relationship of the 3 great ecosystems that co-exist on our planet and the patterns you have taught me to recognize in all places. But humans are unequally distributed around the world. And our cities are not all at the same level of development. How do we take that into consideration?

Gaia: If you are going to evolve cells, organelles, organs and organ systems like I imagine as my Reflective Organ System, then it is a good idea to become aware of the conditions in which these living systems and sub-systems are emerging.

Let’s get some big pictures of human population and demographics.

In purely biological terms, the success of humans can be measured by the rise in global population. Figure 3 illustrates the exponential rate at which human population has grown and is anticipated to continue to grow.

In relating this population growth to cities, we can date the first city with over 1 million inhabitants in 1800 (Beijing). By 1900 the world’s 10 largest cities had populations in the range of 1.4 to 6.4 million. By 1950 the world’s 10 largest cities had populations in the range of 4.8 to 12.4 million. By 2000 the world’s 10 largest cities had populations in the range of 14 to 33 million. (All figures from VanSustern (2007).) By 2018, the world’s 10 largest cities had populations from 18 to 37 million.(Wikipedia)

This blog series considers the factors that will contribute to the evolution of Gaia’s Human Hives in the next hundred years.

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (1) Big Challenges

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (2) Imagine Gaia Thrives

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (3) Alive Cities Evolve

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (4) World Threats

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (5) Population Growth

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (6) Powers of 10

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (7) Demographics Evolve

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (8) Nature Economy

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (9) Systems Reframe

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (10) Development

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (11) New Cities

Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities 2121 (12) Conclusion

Wisdom of Living Systems from Elisabet Sahtouris

Vandana Shiva Guides us to Earth Democracy

Donut Economics Energizes a Planet of Integral Cities

Choose Earth Now

PDF with References of lecture “Gaia Mentors Schooling for a Planet of Integral Cities”