Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century
In Nat Geo's February 2002 issue, the former U.S. president argued we already have the tools to address these seemingly insurmountable global threats.
Ours is an age of complexity, contradiction, and challenge. As we enter the 21st century, we have wealth and technology unmatched in human experience, and the fortunate few who live in the world's developed nations are almost inevitably propelled toward a future enriched by advances in computers, communication, and life sciences.
But for most of the world's people the glittering opportunities of the new century are beyond reach. There are more than six billion of us on Earth, and by 2100 we may number ten billion. Most will live in urban centers, and many are likely to live short and impoverished lives, lacking the wealth or awareness to address problems of life in crowded cities: disease, inadequate food, and unsafe water.
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