A World with 8 Billion People and Growing: How Will We Thrive?
November 15, 2022, will be a milestone in human history.
It’s the day the world population is projected to hit 8 billion for the first time, according to United Nations estimates. It’s a number that was unfathomable a generation ago.
This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate humanity’s diversity and our incredible advancements in mobility, communications, medicine and infrastructure over time. But it’s also a reminder of the increasing demands we place on our planet’s resources, and our shared need to work toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
Who will occupy that future? Who is the 8 billionth person? What will change over her lifetime? What kind of world will she leave for future generations?
We can’t know exactly. But we can make a few assumptions:
As the world surpasses a population of 8 billion people, mobility and urban dynamics must evolve to become more connected, more efficient, and more equitable.
A More Connected World
Cities are dynamic cultural centers, powerful engines for economic growth, and catalysts for technological innovation. Cities foster the human connections the 8 billionth person will need to thrive as an individual in a diverse, growing community. At Otis, we recognize that smart, connected elevators, escalators, and moving walkways will be an indispensable component of any smart city’s infrastructure in the future – serving as vital links within the connected urban journey.
The potential for enhancing that connection is nearly limitless. The world’s 8 billionth person may well experience city living with an app that integrates with her calendar, summons her building’s elevator, tracks commuter train and metro schedules, and calls a car service (or air taxi). Autonomous operations have been foundational in vertical transportation and will push forward to integrate with other autonomous parts of the mobility ecosystem. Otis is contributing to those innovations today and forging new ways to enhance connectivity tomorrow.
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A More Efficient World
The world’s 8 billionth person enters a world where concerns about demands on the Earth’s resources – and their equitable distribution so all communities can thrive – are no longer speculative. They are urgent. Smarter cities can and must deliver more sustainable mobility and greater efficiency for people on the move.
Smart escalators, for example, can be programmed to change direction to accommodate bigger crowds when a train arrives. With smart elevators, a field professional can diagnose a problem remotely and solve that problem remotely as appropriate or optimize their route and arrive onsite with the right tools and spare parts. The result – in both cases - is greater efficiency and better performance with fewer trips and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A More Equitable World
Equity requires leveling the playing field for people of varying economic means, and those who are aging and/or living with disabilities.
Our Made to Move Communities global student challenge is just one way we’re addressing the evolving realities of today and tomorrow, from an aging population to the growing impacts of climate change. We’re investing in STEM learning and vocational training in the communities where we live and work to ensure a more diverse pipeline of STEM practitioners and deliver a new generation of innovation.
A Roadmap for the Future
The world has changed a lot since Elisha Otis founded our company nearly 170 years ago. Then, the global population was just over 1 billion and the mobility solutions many of us take for granted today were unheard of or still in their infancy.
At every turn and with sustained population growth and urbanization, our company has worked to look forward, anticipate change, and ensure we’re best positioned to support a more connected, smarter, equitable society and urban framework.
As the next generation and the world’s 8 billionth person are born, mature and enjoy a lifetime of experiences, we’ll be there to help make that happen. We give people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. That’s our vision and our promise for the future.
How do you think urban environments will—or should—become more connected, efficient, and equitable?
Geschäftsführer / Chairman & Managing Director
2yBe positive - the universe and it’s people will adapt the change / transformation and move ahead - one step at a time.
[Sustainability][Engineering][Lean Transformation][Organizational Leadership]
2yThis is a great read, and yes we should focus on thinking with empathy and well beyond ourselves. As industry leaders we are setting trends which will potentially make or break the planet we call home. As human population keeps increasing, it is important that we encourage people to take up sustainable practices whilst operating their businesses so that the impact on our planet is minimized. By harnessing the power of renewable energy and by accelerating the thought process of stepping away from fossil fuels within the youth of today we can take strides towards a greener future for all of us, After all the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. #leadbyexample #changestartswithyou #towardsabrighterfuture #SettingTrends.
Vice President | Real Estate Development & Construction | Residential, Commercial, and Mixed-Use | USC Marshall MBA Graduate | Strategic & Ethical Servant Leader | Customer-Focused | Tech-Savvy | Committed to Excellence
2yAn important question for us to understand and then build upon the sources of solution. Whatever direction we give to the next generation will become the reason and stepping stone on which they will further build and transfer. We need to make our choices with empathy and think beyond ourselves.