The Pat Kenny Show The demographic time bomb!
Aug 28, 2025
Professor Luke O'Neill, a biochemistry expert from Trinity College Dublin, dives deep into the pressing issue of declining birth rates worldwide. He highlights alarming trends in global population decline, particularly in Ireland, and discusses how education and women's empowerment play key roles in this shift. O'Neill examines the impact of technology and societal changes on family structures and the pervasive pessimism around parenthood. He raises critical questions about the future of our species and potential strategies to reverse these demographic trends.
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Vienna Conference Spotlighted US Science Worries
- Luke O'Neill attended the International Immunology Congress in Vienna with around 4,000 immunologists present.
- The conference highlighted concern over US funding cuts and Miriam Merad's call to 'stand up for science.'
Global Population Is Trending Down
- Demographers predict global population will start to decline for the first time since the Black Death within decades.
- Ireland's fertility fell from 3.83 in 1970 to 1.63 in 2020, below replacement level of 2.1.
Immigration Masks But Doesn't Fix Low Births
- Countries can mask falling births with immigration but several EU countries already saw more deaths than births last year.
- Small incentives, like Trump's proposed $1,000 investment account per baby, aim to nudge birth rates but face limits.