[quote=Nor-LA-SD-guy] I think I heard one scientist say that you could house every single family currently on earth in 3000 sqf homes setting on ¼ acre lots and the roads they would need all in the state of Texas and still have room to spare.
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Roughly true. I got 5,000 sq. ft lots.
Did that scientist calculate the square footage of fertile farmland needed ? Where would that go if the population doubles ? How many gallons of clean water are needed for drinking, irrigation, feeding animals. How much oil is needed to build and run the machinery to manage the crops, heat the homes (OK Not much – it is Texas), equip the hospitals, etc ?
Suffice to say, the limiting factor is not land for housing. It is clean air, clean water, disease-free food and quality medical care. All difficult to quanitfy and model properly.
