| "Overpopulation" isn't even remotely a problem anywhere in the West, the opposite is." I guess it depends how we define overpopulation. I'd argue that overpopulation is a problem in, for example, England. Not in the sense that there isn't enough food, of course, but in the sense that high population density negatively affects quality of life, harms the natural environment, and results in poor, overcrowded, and unhealthy living conditions for many people. Much of Africa, on the other hand, is not densely populated at all compared to Western Europe or East Asia. "Many countries in the West are below replacement levels. That carries its own problems." It does if we end up with a significantly top-heavy population chart, with not enough economically active young people to support the elderly. But slowing or stopping population growth does not mean an end to economic growth. A steady population is a good goal to aim for, but that doesn't mean we should be afraid of falling populations in some areas. If we can return some areas to nature, reducing the environmental footprint of our species while maintaining and improving our quality of life, then that's a good thing. |