From the dawn of agriculture thousands of years ago to the advent of industrialization in recent centuries, humanity has produced more food and created more goods for people across the planet. Will this trend continue? Those who believe this trend will continue argue that advances in science and technology will enable future societies to harness energy and natural resources more safely and produce goods more efficiently. These advances, they contend, will help mitigate the effects of climate change, preserve the planet, and create greater prosperity for all to share. Those who believe this trend won't continue argue that climate change will render increasing parts of the world uninhabitable, limiting the use of land and exploitation of natural resources. Geopolitical tensions and rising extremism, they contend, will widen socioeconomic disparities, undermine progress, and reduce the amount of food and goods people need to survive. Will the future be abundant?Audio only.

Originally released by Open to Debate, 2023. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on June 06, 2024.