“Without fossil fuel, earth can sustain 1,5 billion people – have they decided what to do with the other 5 billion?”
I wonder if that is correct. I wonder what max pop the world could have
without fossil fuels.
I would say right off that there is enormous amount waste in government.
To get rid of fossil fuel could get rid of a lot government- the government workforce simply could not be afforded.
Though it’s possible that would a bigger military force.
But such military could be composed of mostly or partially with private militant groups. You could what is known loosely as a police state.
Or different way to say this is the government role could be limited to security concerns.
One might look at modern countries which have low GDP.
Half the world is poor today. And unlike poor in poor US, the world’s poor can’t afford fossil fuels.
“Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.”
So mostly these 3 billion people aren’t currently using much fossil fuels,
though doubt they maybe assisted in various ways which involve fossil fuel use.
But as saying above, it’s unlikely these 3 billion are doing much to support a government.
I think it might possible to have much higher populations without fossil fuel. But most people would farmers and labors and life would shorter and a lot less comfortable.