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Witness History: The book that predicted an end to civilisation

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The book that predicted an end to civilisation

01/01/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The book that predicted an end to civilisation

The Limits to Growth was published in 1972 and suggested global decline from 2020

In 1972, the authors of The Limits to Growth used a computer model to predict the future if economic trends continued unabated. The analysis suggested global decline from 2020.

The Limits to Growth was published in 1972 and predicted global decline from 2020. It was based on a computer model which analysed how the Earth would cope with unrestricted economic growth. Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology fed in huge amounts of data on population, pollution, industrialisation, food production and resources. They found that if the trends continued, the result would be a sudden and uncontrollable downturn beginning around 2020. Claire Bowes hears from one of the authors of the book, Professor Dennis Meadows.

Image: Front cover of The Limits to Growth, published in 1972

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