Beyond 7 Billion: Philippines

Composed the original score for this four-part mini-doc series in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winners Rick Loomis (photography & video) and Kenneth Weiss (story) for the Los Angeles Times.

Background

More than 7 billion people crowd the planet, and by mid-century there will probably be at least 2 billion more. At least 8 million a year perish of hunger-related illness. Nearly 1 billion go to bed hungry every night. According to United Nations projections, the number will rise to 9.6 billion by 2050 — the equivalent of adding another India and China to the world. That’s an optimistic scenario, assuming that birthrates continue to fall. If they stay where they are, the global population is projected to reach 11 billion by midcentury — akin to adding three Chinas. Under either forecast, scientists say, living conditions are likely to be bleak for much of humanity. Water, food and arable land will be more scarce, cities more crowded and hunger more widespread. Nearly all – 97 percent – of the growth will come in the developing world. The fastest growth will come in the countries least able to handle it.