THEORY
3.2 Population growth18001086420
1850 1900 1950 2000 2050
Wor ld Population Growth 1800–2050 (billions)
Source: UN Population DivisionThe flourishing of human life and cultures is
compatible with a substantial decrease of the
human population. The flourishing of
non-human life requires such a decrease.
(Fourth principle of the deep
ecology platform)
World population grew dramatically during the
twentieth century, reaching 6 billion in October- The rate of growth has, however, slowed
and global population is expected to peak at 9
to 10 billion around 2060, with most growth in
less developed countries.
Population control has been a key issue in
environmental writing since the publication of
Paul Ehrlich’s best-sellerThe Population Bomb
in 1968 with its neo-Malthusian thesis that
population growth was exponential. Many
greens believe that only by reducing the world’s
population can global consumption be cut to
sustainable levels. Population control is
controversial because many suggested
solutions are authoritarian and/or discriminate
against poorer countries, as illustrated by
Hardin’s ‘lifeboat ethic’ (see Box3.1), and by
proposals to cut off food aid to poor countries
unless their governments introduce
compulsory sterilisation programmes or to
impose stronger immigration controls to protect
rich countries from refugees from the South.
Some environmentalists are also enthusiastic
about the Chinese ‘one child per family’
policy.
Green parties today, well aware of the
sensitivities surrounding population issues,
tend to downplay it and pointedly reject
coercive methods. Indeed, most evidence
suggests that economic and social develop-
ment, by reducing poverty, providing for basic
needs and improving female literacy and entry
to the workforce, is the most effective means of
slowing population growth (Harrison 1993 ; Sen
1994 ).relationship between humans and nature, which teaches us that problems
cannot be separated and treated in isolation (see Chapter7). Thirdly, the
current pace of economic growth isexponential,sothat the gradual build-up
of environmental problems may produce a sudden catastrophic outcome.
This point is often illustrated by the following riddle. On what day will
apond be half covered with lilies, if the coverage doubles every day and
will cover the entire pond on the thirtieth day? The answer is the twenty-
ninth day (Brown 1978 ). The message is that policymakers need foresight to
act early enough to prevent the catastrophic outcome predicted byLimits to
Growth. Lastly, short-term technological fixes are insufficient because they
do not address the underlying economic, social and political causes of the
environmental crisis; they may delay destruction, but they will not prevent
it. Overall,Limits to Growthsuggests that ecological destruction is inextrica-
bly linked to prevailing economic, social and political systems. Greens have