The rapid rise in the world’s population to 7 billion — from 6 billion a dozen years ago — poses enormous challenges. In this video, Earth Institute Director Jeffrey D. Sachs talks about the stresses our population already puts on the planet, and the mission of the institute to tackle those problems and promote sustainable development.

A young resident of Maslakh Camp for internally displaced persons, in Afghanistan. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Sachs will join a panel of experts on Oct. 17 to talk about these challenges. Joel E. Cohen, a professor at both Columbia and Rockefeller universities, will talk on “7 billion: Good news and bad news (no joke).” Matthew Bishop, the U.S. business editor and New York bureau chief for the Economist, will moderate the panel. The event runs from 5-7 p.m. in the Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Columbia, at Broadway between 114th and 115th streets.

For details to register, or to watch the webcast, go here.