In 1972, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) predicted that humanity's pursuit of economic growth regardless of environmental and social costs would lead to the collapse of society by the mid-21st century – a new study shows that it is a reality could be.

Gaya Herrington, head of sustainability and dynamic systems analysis at KPMG, took on the task of proving or disproving MIT's claims, using a world simulation model that analyzed how our world has evolved since 1972.

Examining 10 key variables, such as population, industrial production and persistent pollution, Herrington found that our business-as-usual mentality will trigger a decline in economic growth over the next decade.

However, the data showed an even grimmer future and our world could experience total social collapse by 2040.

A total collapse of society would mean an abrupt decline in the quality of life, food production, industrial production and, ultimately, the human population.

The new study examined 10 key variables such as population, industrial production and persistent pollution, and found that our business-as-usual mentality will trigger a decline in economic growth over the next decade

MIT made its prediction using a computer program called World1 and looked back to 1900-2060.

The data was drawn up on long sheets of white paper and appeared as graphical lines.

In a video of the 1972 results, MIT's Jerry Foster, who developed World1, revealed his innovation to the world and used MIT's work to do so.

Foster showed how the population increased from 1900 to the turn of the century.

However, the data showed an even grimmer future – our world could experience total social collapse by 2040. Total social collapse would mean an abrupt decline in the quality of life, food production, industrial production and, ultimately, the human population

The line starts low and then continues to rise until a few years after 2000, when it ends.

Another example he cited was the quality of life, which increased rapidly until the 1940s and then decreased until 2020 when it saw a further increase.

However, the model also identified 2020 as a turning point for civilization.

"Around 2020 the state of the planet will become extremely critical. If we don't do anything about it, the quality of life will drop to zero, "Foster said in 1973 on an ABC segment.

"Pollution is getting so serious that it will start killing people, which in turn will cause the population to decline, lower than it was in 1900. At this stage, between 2040 and 2050, civilized life will be as we did it know this planet, cease. 'exist.'

Herrington used the same model, but the third version of the simulation, called World3, and looked at 10 key variables: population, fertility rates, death rates, industrial production, food production, services, non-renewable resources, persistent pollution, human well-being, and ecological footprint, as first reported by VICE .

The researcher found that the world simulation program data matched two specific scenarios, "BAU2" (business-as-usual) and "CT" (comprehensive technology). "BAU2 and CT scenarios show that growth will stop in about a decade," says the study

It found that the most recent data most closely matched two specific scenarios, "BAU2" (business-as-usual) and "CT" (comprehensive technology).

"BAU2 and CT scenarios show a halt to growth within about a decade," concludes the study published in the Yale Journal of Industrial Ecology.

'Both scenarios therefore indicate that business as usual, i.e. continuous growth, is not possible.

"Also in connection with an unprecedented technological development and acceptance, business as usual along the lines of the LtG" [Limits of Growth, the MIT book based on its study] would inevitably lead to a decline in industrial capital, agricultural production and the level of prosperity within this century. "

Although the 1972 simulation suggests that society is doomed, Herrington's study adds that advances in technology and more investment in public services could lead us away from collapse.

However, humanity will have to go to great lengths over the next decade to change the bleak future.

"At this point, the data is therefore closest to the CT and BAU2 scenarios, which point to a slowdown and a possible halt to growth within the next decade, but World3 leaves open whether the subsequent decline will represent a collapse," the concludes Study.

Although the Stabilized World scenario is the least likely to be pursued, a conscious change of course by society moving towards a goal other than growth is still possible. The work of the LtG implies that this time window closes quickly.