Overview
- His daughter, Lisa Marie Daniel, confirmed he died Friday in Palo Alto of cancer complications at a nursing facility at age 93.
- The Population Bomb, published in 1968, sold about three million copies and warned of imminent mass famine and social collapse.
- Over time, the global population more than doubled even as the share of people facing hunger declined, aided by agricultural innovation such as the Green Revolution.
- He lost a 1980 bet with economist Julian Simon on resource scarcity and sent Simon $576.07 in 1990 after the selected metals fell in real price.
- Obituaries and commentary now sharply differ on his legacy, with critics highlighting failed forecasts and some alleging policy harms, while supporters emphasize his influence on environmental discourse.