If everything under the heaven has to come to an end, how many years left for human beings before the ultimate end? Is 1000 centuries possible? The well-known astrophysicists Roger Bonnet and L. Woltjer give us their reasonable answer. Today, the Chinese edition translated by the translation group organized by National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences meets the public.

　　To Roger Bonnet and L. Woltjer, it is not reliable to go to another planet due to the cost, risk and physical limits. The Planet Earth is the only planet which has the capacity to sustain several billion people in a bio diversified environment.

　　Roger Bonnet regards the Earth as the spaceship in the solar system. Due to the limited resources on board, the spaceship and the crew on board should not grow in a reckless way, or our spaceship will lead to a dangerous path of destruction.

　　Whether human beings can survive 1000 centuries depends on what we will do in the 21 century, especially what we will do in the following decades.

　　There is no way out except Controlling the growth of population

　　Roger Bonnet optimistically believed that 11 billion people is the maximum number of inhabitants on the Planet Earth, beyond which the living conditions for human beings will become worse and worse.

　　Energy is not a problem if there is economic drive for the shift to renewable resources

　　Roger Bonnet and L. Woltjer predicted that in 1000 centuries, the fossil age will be officially ended. Because of the renewable resources, human beings could survive 1000 centuries. They pointed out that fusion energy could be the inexhaustible resource.

　　Short of water is another obstacle for humanity. Desalination, the authors believed, is the way human beings have to resort to.  

　　Preventing global warming needs more accurate, thorough, comprehensive and scientific evaluation

　　Within one century, the surface temperature of the Earth has risen by 1 degree. According to many prediction models, the temperature will rise by 3 degree by the year 2100.

　　The author believed that global warming needs constant monitoring and involves political and social decisions.

　　Space observation is of crucial importance and China has done impressive work

　　Space tools have shown strategic advantages in maintaining the health of the Earth in preventing civil and natural disasters and catastrophes.

　　“All space-faring nations will have a global responsibility in providing the means necessary to continuously observe the planet. China in particular with its successful and impressive space program will be a key partner in that global international effort”, said Roger Bonnet. ----Report excerpt from Guangming Daily

 

　  (Supplied by Office of International Cooperation)