Growing world population predicted to impact LV

Growing population throughout the world will have an impact on the quality of life here in Las Vegas.

At least that is the contention of Werner Fornos, president of the Population Institute, an internationally known organization that studies population trends. Fornos will speak Thursday at UNLV.

"Last year, the world population grew by 80 million -- 98 percent of that was in the world's poorest countries," Fornos said by phone Tuesday from Reno. He listed Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador as countries with fast-growing populations that contribute to immigration in the U.S. Southwest.

The United States will see its population rise from its current level of about 270 million to 400 million in 2050, with much of that increase coming from immigration.

Sometime between 2000 and 2005 immigration will account for more of the U.S. population growth than births, he said.

If growth trends continue, the Las Vegas metropolitan area should see its population double in 16 years, he said.

He anticipates the growing population will face a shortage of water.

The average Nevadan uses 309 gallons of water a day, he said. On the other hand the average person in Bangladesh uses 5 gallons.

"We are facing a water shortage that will be much worse than the gas shortage of the 1970s. It will be liquid gold. ... Things like lawns in Las Vegas may be something we can no longer afford."

Fornos will speak 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday in Room 102 of the Physics Building at UNLV. The public is welcome.

The Population Institute is an independent nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to achieving a more equitable balance between the world's population, environment and resources. The institute has members from 160 countries.

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