From Malthusian Maths to Musk
Overpopulation makes all global challenges harder, and eventually impossible, to solve. But is there now a glimmer of hope that we can avoid collapse?
The mathematics of Overpopulation are simple, striking and stark.
Climate Change, Famine, The Sixth Mass Extinction, Habitat Loss, Wars of Resources, Refugees, Desertification, Topsoil degradation, Rising fuel costs, mineral scarcity, drought… even Pandemics. Every existential global problem we face today is caused by, or greatly exacerbated by, human Overpopulation. It’s time to stop discussing the symptoms and start addressing the cause, yet many treat even raising the topic as taboo.
As I published this article, on the Second of December 2023, the world population was
8,076,512,377
You can see a current count here: World Population Counter
There isn’t one of the existential challenges we face as a planet that wouldn’t be instantly much less of a pressing threat if the human population suddenly dropped to a sustainable 1.8 Billion. - though, as we’ll see, that isn’t a Utopian vision either.
Think of a number.
Most people, when pressed, agree that there is a maximum number of humans the planet can support - even if some believe it’s many tens of billions more than we have now, so we just disagree on how many the number is and how pressing an issue it should be considered.
So many people systemically do not believe that Human Overpopulation is a pressing or urgent issue. Religions and Nationalists, especially, are by paradigm competitive natalists - looking to outbreed their competitors. At the same time, capitalism has tied population growth to economic growth and demands growth in workers and consumers, even as it makes conditions worse for both.
I look at Robert Thomas Malthus and some of his successors in this essay. The 18th-century cleric whose maths first warned us that population growth would outstrip our ability to feed ourselves. We’ll explore the ethical dilemmas of population control, scrutinise controversial policies like China’s One-Child rule, and analyse how Overpopulation exacerbates environmental degradation, intensifies resource scarcity, deepens social and economic inequalities, overburdens healthcare systems, and undermines the quality of life.
Finally, I will examine the humane, non-coercive alternatives proposed by a charity I support, Population Matters.
The Great Grandfather Thought Experiment
Picture your great-grandfather as a farmer with 32 acres of land. He and his family, including two sons, live a simple, happy life. They have enough food and are healthy.
When he passes away, he leaves half of his land, 16 acres each, to his sons, your grandfather and his brother. They use new machines like tractors instead of horses to farm. But now, they have less land to feed their families.
By the third generation, the land is split again, and your father gets even less land, only 8 acres, from your grandfather. Life gets harder. He has to feed you, your brother, and your mother on the much smaller farm. With no horses whose manure fertilises the land as it is ploughed, they use chemical fertilisers made from fossil fuels.
Soon, it’s your turn.
It is impossible to live as well as your great-grandfather did with so little land. Your great-grandfather raised a family of four on 32 acres. Can you give your children the same quality of life on 4 acres? What prospects do you leave your sons with only 2 acres each?
In two authentic ways, this is not a hypothetical situation. This is your story. Whether your Great-grandfather farmed the land or not when he was alive, far fewer people were being supported by each acre in cultivation. The population has doubled since I was born - but it’s grown by more than 7 billion since our great-grandfathers were alive.
The Stomach Never Lets Go
In Jared Diamond’s “Collapse,” he explores the situation in Rwanda as an example of the consequences of rapid population growth and limited resources. The four key points he discusses are:
High Population Growth and Environmental Impact: Africa, specifically Rwanda and its neighbour Burundi, have some of the highest rates of population growth in the world. This growth has visibly impacted the environment, with issues like sparse grass in pastures, advanced erosion, and muddy streams.
Ethnic Strife and Genocide: Rwanda and Burundi consist of two main tribes: the Hutu, who are primarily farmers, and the Tutsi, traditionally ranchers. Both nations have struggled with ethnic conflicts and genocides. In 1994, extremist Hutu leaders in Rwanda initiated a systematic genocide against the Tutsi, significantly reducing their population. Ethnic tensions did not solely drive this crisis but were also fueled by underlying land and resource scarcity issues exacerbated by population growth.
Land Issues and Food Production: After the Tutsi were killed or exiled in the 1960s and ’70s, the Hutu took over their land, leading to a temporary increase in food production. However, by the mid-1980s, all arable land was being used, erosion became rampant, and the growing population pushed per-capita food consumption back to levels seen in the 1960s. This created a Malthusian crisis, where population growth outpaced the production of essential resources like food.
Extreme Population Density and Famine Levels: The Northwest Rwandan region of Kanama had population densities higher than even Bangladesh, the most crowded nation on Earth. With limited land availability, young adults often lived with their parents, placing further strain on each small farm. Traditionally, farms were divided among sons, giving each generation less land per person. By 1990, 40% of Rwandans consumed calories below famine levels, indicating severe food scarcity amid growing populations.
“The stomach never lets go”
Rwandan Proverb.
Diamond’s analysis in “Collapse” illustrates how environmental degradation, population pressures, and ethnic tensions can intertwine, leading to catastrophic outcomes like those witnessed in Rwanda. However, Rwanda is no exception- the same pressures are being played out globally.
In just a few generations, our global population has increased from a billion to over 8 billion and is on track for 11 billion in the next few decades.
Malthusian Maths
“Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence increases only in an arithmetical ratio. A slight acquaintance with numbers will shew the immensity of the first power in comparison of the second.”
Robert Malthus
Who Was Thomas Robert Malthus?
Thomas Robert Malthus was an English cleric and scholar who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He’s most famous for his work, “An Essay on the Principle of Population,” published in 1798. In this seminal text, which laid the foundation for the field of demography, he introduced a controversial yet sound theory that continues to influence population studies. Malthus argued that population growth would inevitably outpace the growth of resources, leading to famine, disease, and other catastrophes.
Malthus posited a simple yet unsettling equation: while population grows geometrically (1, 2, 4, 8, 16...), resources like food grow arithmetically (1, 2, 3, 4, 5...). The implication? Sooner or later, we’ll run out of the stuff that keeps us alive. Malthus suggested that “positive checks” like famine, war, and disease would curb population growth, keeping it in line with resource availability. It’s important to note he was not suggesting that we should starve people, foment war or spread disease - he was saying that they were inevitable consequences.
Why Malthus Matters
You might be thinking, “That’s all well and good, but what does an 18th-century cleric have to do with today’s world?” Quite a bit, actually. Modern data suggests that we’re hurtling towards a population of 9.7 billion by 2050. And while technological advancements have staved off Malthus’ grim predictions so far, intensive chemical farming has come at a vast and unsustainable environmental cost. The fundamental imbalance he identified remains a pressing concern.
Malthus’ Heir
In the academic discourse on population dynamics, Paul Ehrlich is often regarded as a modern successor to Thomas Malthus due to his contributions in the late 20th century that echoed and expanded upon Malthusian theory.
Ehrlich’s work, particularly his seminal book “The Population Bomb,” can be seen as a contemporary extension of Malthus’s earlier predictions about the dire consequences of unchecked population growth.
Ehrlich’s thesis was grounded in the fundamental Malthusian principle that population growth, if left unchecked, would eventually outpace food production and other vital resources, leading to catastrophic outcomes such as famine, disease, and war.
Like Malthus, Ehrlich emphasised the potential for exponential population growth to overwhelm the Earth’s carrying capacity. However, Ehrlich extended this theory by incorporating modern environmental concerns, highlighting not only the issue of food scarcity but also the broader ecological impacts of Overpopulation, such as pollution and habitat destruction.
A critical parallel between Malthus and Ehrlich lies in their underestimation of technological advancements. Malthus, writing in the early 19th century, could not have foreseen the agricultural innovations of the Green Revolution, which significantly increased food production and averted the famines he predicted. Similarly, Ehrlich’s predictions in the 1960s and 1970s did not fully account for the rapid advancements in agricultural technology, family planning, and global health initiatives that helped to mitigate some of the most severe consequences of population growth he anticipated.
While Ehrlich’s work played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the potential dangers of Overpopulation, some of his proposed solutions have drawn substantial criticism, particularly his endorsement of coercive population control measures. Ehrlich suggested that, in extreme cases, compulsory birth control might be necessary if voluntary methods failed. This approach has been widely criticised as ethically problematic and potentially authoritarian. The notion that it might be justifiable for governments to intervene in such a forceful manner in the reproductive choices of individuals raises profound ethical and human rights concerns. Critics argue that such coercive measures are morally questionable and potentially counterproductive, as they can lead to human rights abuses and undermine public trust in government and health initiatives.
A cure worse than the disease?
The argument that authoritarian intervention might be necessary to avert nature’s harsher corrections, such as famine, war, or disease, is contentious. It suggests a false dichotomy between coercive human intervention and catastrophic natural outcomes, overlooking the potential for ethical, voluntary, and more humane approaches to population management. These might include education, women empowerment, economic development, and the promotion of voluntary family planning methods, which effectively stabilise population growth without infringing on individual rights and freedoms.
While Ehrlich’s work built upon and modernised Malthusian theory by incorporating contemporary environmental concerns, his failure to anticipate technological advancements and his controversial advocacy for coercive population control measures have been significant points of critique in the academic evaluation of his legacy.
The Impact of Overpopulation on Environment and Society
The environmental and social implications of Overpopulation are far-reaching. As the Food-Energy-Water nexus becomes increasingly strained, we witness environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and social inequalities. These challenges are not isolated but interconnected, with each exacerbating the others. The environmental effects of Overpopulation, such as greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption and eutrophication from agricultural runoff, have global repercussions. Simultaneously, the social effects, including disparities in resource access and quality of life, are becoming more pronounced.
The Food–Energy–Water Nexus
A critical aspect of Overpopulation is the strain on the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus. This concept encapsulates the interlinked nature of these essential resources and their vulnerability in the face of population growth. According to Muñoz and Navia, human dependence on food, energy, and water is expected to increase significantly by 2030, with demands rising by 35%, 50%, and 40%, respectively.
This growing demand, coupled with limited supply, underscores the urgency of managing these resources holistically, especially in urban settings where the impacts of Overpopulation are most acute.
Environmental Degradation
Overpopulation directly contributes to environmental degradation, encompassing many issues, from climate change to biodiversity loss. A study by Zulham et al. (2021) highlights the nexus between human development, economic and population growth, and environmental degradation. They found that a low human development index and high population growth significantly increase environmental degradation. This degradation manifests in various forms, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, severely impacting the planet’s health and sustainability.
Social Inequalities: The Widening Gap
Overpopulation also deepens social inequalities. Elisabeth Naito Jengo’s research on Burundi illustrates how resource scarcity and rapid population growth can trigger violent political conflicts - as we also saw in Collapse by Jared Diamond. The struggle for limited resources like land can exacerbate social tensions and inequalities, leading to instability and conflict at a local, regional and global level.
Diverse Impacts of Overpopulation Across Regions
Global Variations in Overpopulation Challenges
Overpopulation is a global issue, but its impacts are not uniform across different regions. The challenges and consequences of Overpopulation vary significantly based on factors such as economic development, cultural norms, and environmental conditions. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for developing effective and context-specific solutions.
Developed vs Developing Countries
In many developed countries, Overpopulation often manifests in increased consumption and higher per capita environmental footprints. These nations face challenges related to urban sprawl, increased waste production, and significant contributions to climate change due to higher consumption and energy use levels. For instance, the United States and other developed nations have a disproportionately large carbon footprint compared to their population size.
Conversely, in many developing countries, rapid population growth exacerbates poverty, resource scarcity, and inadequate infrastructure. For example, countries in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia face critical challenges in providing sufficient food, clean water, and healthcare to their growing populations. The strain on resources in these regions often leads to severe environmental degradation and social unrest.
Impact on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges due to Overpopulation. Limited land area and resources make these regions particularly vulnerable to the impacts of population growth. Issues such as overfishing, freshwater scarcity, and biodiversity loss are prevalent. Additionally, the increasing population in these confined spaces intensifies the impact of climate change, particularly sea-level rise, posing existential threats to these communities.
Urban vs Rural Dynamics
The impact of Overpopulation also varies between urban and rural areas. Rapid urbanisation in many parts of the world leads to overcrowded cities, strained public services, and increased pollution. In contrast, rural areas might experience land degradation, loss of agricultural land, and deforestation as populations grow and more land is required for housing and agriculture.
The Antithesis Team
Perhaps one way to convince people that Overpopulation is a real and pressing issue is simply to ask them to consider who they are siding with if they think the opposite! There is a deep connection between nationalism and natalism - the call for increased births. Picture possibly the three worst people on the planet that you wouldn’t want to pro-create… If you guessed Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump, pat yourself on the back.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and the world’s first Sovereign Individual, has expressed concerns about a potential population collapse due to low birth rates, which he views as a significant risk to civilisation. In a tweet, Musk stated that
“population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilisation than global warming”
Elon Musk
He has repeatedly warned that declining birth rates could threaten humanity’s future more than other recognised problems like climate change (The Hill, 2021). Musk’s concerns are based on the observation that in many developed countries, birth rates have fallen below replacement levels, and he fears this trend could lead to a significant decline in the global population.
However, demographers and experts in population studies disagree with Musk’s dire predictions. Joseph Chamie, a consulting demographer and former director of the United Nations Population Division, argues that while some countries are experiencing population decline, the global population is still growing and is not expected to collapse anytime soon. The United Nations projects that the global population could reach 8.5 billion in just eight years and peak at 10.4 billion by 2080, with a 50% chance of plateauing or beginning to decrease by 2100. Furthermore, the current global population growth is driven not by a higher birth rate but by increased life expectancy and lower mortality rates.
In contrast to Musk’s views, experts like Patrick Gerland, chief of the United Nations’ Population Estimates and Projections Section, suggest that framing the current demographic trends as a collapse is overly dramatic. The world’s population is expected to peak in the second half of the 21st century and then plateau or gradually drop, but this does not indicate a collapse (WIRED, 2022).
Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently urged Russian women to have eight or more children, emphasising the importance of large families as a norm and a way of life for all people of Russia (HuffPost UK, 2023). This call comes against the backdrop of Russia’s declining birth rate and the significant casualties suffered in the ongoing Ukraine war. The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has experienced around 300,000 casualties in Ukraine, with up to 190,000 troops either killed or permanently wounded. Additionally, the war has led to a workforce shortage and an economic slowdown, exacerbating the population issue (The Independent, 2023).
Putin’s emphasis on large families is a response to Russia’s demographic challenges. The Russian population, which was 146.4 million at the start of 2023, has dropped from 1999’s population of 147.2 million when Putin came into office. The birth rate has been declining since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, with Russia recording 1.5 births per woman, lower than the rate of 2.1 required to maintain the population. In response, the Russian government has offered financial incentives to families with more than one child and relaunched the Soviet-era Mother Heroine Award for women with ten or more children (Business Insider, 2022).
While acknowledging Russia’s population challenges, it is essential to consider these issues from a global, cosmopolitan perspective rather than a nationalist one.
Global population dynamics vary significantly across regions, and while some countries, like Russia, face declining birth rates, others are experiencing population growth.
Donald Trump
In his bid for the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump proposed a plan that includes ‘baby bonuses’ for couples. This initiative is part of his larger vision to create ‘Freedom Cities’ and foster a new baby boom in the United States. During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump emphasised the need for these new cities to be filled with children and suggested that under his leadership, the federal government would offer ‘baby bonuses’ to increase procreation (Daily Mail, 2023).
Trump’s proposal for ‘Freedom Cities’ includes the development of 10 new cities on federal land, focusing on modern infrastructure, including ‘vertical takeoff and landing vehicles’ for families. These cities are envisioned as hubs of innovation and growth, providing opportunities for home ownership and the American dream. The ‘baby bonuses’ are seen as a means to encourage population growth within these new urban developments.
The concept of ‘baby bonuses’ as a pro-natalist policy is not new and has been implemented in various forms in different countries. Trump’s proposal draws inspiration from similar policies in other nations, aiming to address the challenges of declining birth rates and an ageing population. However, the specifics of implementing these bonuses, including eligibility criteria and the bonus amount, have not been detailed (Bloomberg Tax, 2023).
Trump’s vision for ‘Freedom Cities’ and the accompanying ‘baby bonuses’ reflects a broader trend of governments exploring pro-natalist policies to counter demographic challenges. These initiatives often involve financial incentives to encourage families to have more children, aiming to boost population growth and rejuvenate ageing societies.
Nationalism and Natalism
While the global population is booming, the subtext of those calling for increased births isn’t that there aren’t enough people - it’s that there aren’t enough of ‘the right’ people. For the likes of Trump, this plays into Replacement theory, but it can also potentially be seen in any country that wants to promote ‘native’ births while being against immigration - which can be most Nationalist regimes from France to Japan. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Power to the People
The report titled “Power to the People: How Population Policies Work”, from population matters, examines various examples and presents evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of different strategies. A notable case is Thailand, which achieved a remarkable reduction in its fertility rate (average number of children per woman) by approximately 75% within just two generations. This was accomplished through a focused, innovative, and ethical approach to population control, contributing significantly to the country’s economic growth.
The Vegan Hypothesis
There is a counterargument that Malthus and Erhlight did not foresee the increases in food production that have stopped their worst predictions from coming true (yet). While the challenges of population growth and limited resources are significant, as highlighted in Jared Diamond’s analysis of Rwanda, there is an antithesis suggesting that we could feed a significantly larger population by improving food production through various means. The ideas might have some merit - Here are some of the key strategies proposed:
Shift to Plant-Based Diets: One major strategy is the global shift towards a vegan diet. The production of meat, especially red meat, is resource-intensive, requiring large amounts of land, water, and feed. By adopting a plant-based diet, we can reduce the ecological footprint of our food systems. This change would free up more land for crop production and decrease greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.
Increase Agricultural Yields: Advances in agricultural technology and farming practices can significantly increase crop yields. This includes using better irrigation techniques, adopting more efficient crop rotation practices, and using natural fertilisers and pesticides to maintain soil health.
Genetically Modified Crops: Developing and using genetically modified (GM) crops is a contentious but potentially transformative solution. GM crops can be engineered to resist pests, diseases, and environmental stresses such as drought or poor soil conditions. This can lead to higher yields and reduced reliance on chemical inputs like pesticides and fertilisers.
Sustainable Farming Practices: Embracing sustainable farming practices is crucial. This includes integrated pest management, organic farming, and agroforestry, which combine crop cultivation with the conservation of natural ecosystems. These practices can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and make farming systems more resilient to climate change.
Urban and Vertical Farming: Urban farming and vertical farming are innovative approaches to food production in urban settings. These methods use less land and can reduce the distance food travels from farm to consumer, thereby reducing carbon emissions. Vertical farms, in particular, can grow crops in controlled environments using techniques like hydroponics, which can significantly increase yield per square foot.
Reducing Food Waste: A significant portion of food produced globally is wasted. By improving food storage, transportation, and consumption practices, we can better use the food already produced. This involves both technological solutions and changes in consumer behaviour.
Education and Policy Changes: Education on sustainable agriculture and dietary choices, combined with policy changes that support sustainable practices, can drive a shift towards more efficient and less resource-intensive food production systems.
These strategies initially present a hopeful counterpoint to the Malthusian dilemma of limited resources and growing populations. They suggest that we can sustainably feed a growing global population with the right combination of technological innovation, societal shifts, and policy support. However, they do not support continued population growth indefinitely. At best, they put off the crash. We could potentially create more food per acre - but if that acts as fuel to stimulate population growth - for example, removing hunger as a check on population, then as the population grows and consumes and pollutes - we have delayed the tragedy while ramping up our hubris. We would be pouring fuel on the fire. There is also the fact that we are not building incremental improvements in food production on a stable foundation - given how topsoil is degrading and how 50% of humans currently rely on fertilisers made from fossil fuels, even massive improvements in yield might only be us running to stand still.
Population Matters
Just as Malthus was not advocating war, the answer to Overpopulation isn’t genocide. As it turns out, there is a well-formulated and non-coercive plan. I have campaigned with David Attenborough’s environmental charity, Population Matters. We believe it is self-evident that the more people you have on a planet of limited resources, the fewer resources there are per person, and the harder it becomes to solve our environmental problems.
“All of our environmental problems become easier to solve with fewer people, and harder – and ultimately impossible – to solve with ever more people.”
Sir David Attenborough.
Population Matters has developed a six-step plan that can bring the population under control.
Empowering Women and Girls, Globally.
Empowerment of women and girls is crucial for reducing fertility rates. This involves ensuring autonomy over reproductive choices, access to education and career opportunities, economic independence, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare. Additionally, it necessitates the eradication of child marriage and gender-based violence. The empowerment of women and girls is intrinsically linked to environmental and social sustainability.
Removing Barriers to Contraception
Approximately half of all pregnancies globally are unintended, highlighting a significant gap in contraception use. Over 200 million women who wish to avoid pregnancy lack access to modern contraceptive methods. This issue is predominantly observed in the world’s poorest regions, experiencing rapid population growth. International aid focused on family planning requires adequate funding, effective service delivery, gender equality advancement, and male engagement. Cultural, societal, and religious norms often influence contraceptive use and family size preferences, necessitating community-based interventions to modify attitudes and practices.
Quality Education for All
Access to quality education is a fundamental driver of sustainable development. Disparities in education, particularly affecting girls due to gender inequality, have profound implications on population dynamics. Educational attainment is inversely correlated with fertility rates; for instance, African women with no education have significantly more children on average compared to those with secondary or higher education. Education not only influences family size but also enhances women’s opportunities for economic participation. Furthermore, higher education levels are associated with increased environmental awareness and the support of policies addressing climate change. A path to further education also means many women who would otherwise have been married off and having children from puberty will, instead, choose to start having families later in life, if at all.
Global Justice and Sustainable Economies
The United Nations predicts that future population growth will predominantly occur in the world’s poorest countries. Alleviating poverty is a fundamental human right and a critical factor in reducing birth rates. International aid, fair trade, and the pursuit of global justice are essential in achieving sustainable population levels. More equitable distribution of resources and a shift away from growth-dependent economic models are imperative for a sustainable future.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”
― Edward Abbey
Economic incentives, such as tax benefits or subsidies for smaller families, can also encourage population control. These incentives can be effective in nudging behaviour towards smaller family sizes. However, they risk exacerbating social inequalities if not carefully designed, as they may disproportionately benefit those already economically advantaged.
Improving Child and Maternal Health
High infant and child mortality rates often lead, paradoxically, to larger family sizes. Therefore, reducing these mortality rates is crucial in controlling birth rates globally. Integrating family planning with gender equality initiatives can delay the onset of childbearing and increase interbirth intervals. Smaller family sizes also allow for more significant investment in health services, particularly in low-income countries.
Exercising the Choice
In high-income countries, individuals generally have the autonomy to decide on family size, though societal pressures may influence these decisions. It is essential to recognise that individuals in wealthier regions have a disproportionate environmental impact due to higher consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the environmental implications of population growth can inform decisions about family size, presenting an opportunity for environmentally conscious choices.
The Risks and Downsides - The One Child Plan
Population degrowth does carry risks and downsides - The classic example being China’s coercive one-child policy, the cultural preference for sons led to female infanticide.
Returning to our great grandfather’s example, imagine the opposite - three generations of one-child policy. Imagine four grandparents: two couples, each having one child, who marry and have one child - but with life expectancy increasing. What happens when the parents reach retirement age and the grandparents are still alive? As an economic model, one worker is active in the economy, whose taxes must support six state pensions!
A New Hope?
We live in a world grappling with the stark realities of Overpopulation. The echoes of Malthus’s warnings resonate with increasing urgency. This should not be a surprise - the warnings have been there, their roots in the prophetic insights of Thomas Robert Malthus to the present daily headlines that entangle environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and social inequality.
Historical perspectives, ethical dilemmas, and contemporary challenges are woven together to present a tapestry that vividly illustrates the gravity of our global situation. And that tapestry is on fire.
The evidence is overwhelming. Our planet is buckling under the weight of human excess. The current state of the world, marked by climate extremes and environmental crises, stands as a testament to the unsustainable trajectory of our population growth. The year 2023 alone has unveiled a climate catastrophe after catastrophe that underscores the immediacy of the threat we face.
Can we see a sliver of hope through the smoke of a ten thousand acres of wildfire?
We have crossed the Rubicon. While it is likely too late to prevent a complete collapse of civilisation, a collapse in complexity, there perhaps is still a path to mitigating some of the severity of this impending crisis.
The solution does not lie in technological escapism and cannot rely on coercive measures. We must embrace a holistic approach that addresses the root cause – Overpopulation. We can steer our global community towards a more balanced and sustainable future by empowering women and girls, enhancing access to education and contraception, and fostering sustainable economic models.
As we look forward, we must recognise that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s world. The journey towards a sustainable population is not just a matter of policy. It is a collective moral imperative. The requirement is a mathematical fact. It requires a paradigm shift in how we view our relationship with the planet and each other. By adopting responsible and ethical approaches to population control, we can ensure that our legacy for future generations is not one of desolation but of hope and resilience.
While the shadow of a civilisation collapse looms large, our actions can still influence the scale of its impact. It is a time for bold, decisive, and compassionate action.
It’s too late to avoid hitting the wall, but the sooner we slam on the brakes, the more we might lessen the impact.
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