Exponential growth is a pattern of change with a compound effect. It occurs when the rate of increase of a given variable is proportionally linked to its current value. Generally, the growth rate accelerates over time making future predictions of the variable's value difficult due to the unpredictable nature of this process. Exponential growth is most commonly seen in population growth, economic and technological development, and the exponential expansion of various digital platforms. This rapid increase can neither be planned nor controlled, which makes it both a blessing and a challenge.

See also: population growth, economic growth, renewable energy, carbon pulse