I think the typical response to that question would be something like ‘The Davos crowd sees current consumption rates as unsustainable and want a lower population. Bill gates has videos talking about the imperative to reduce global population by coercing a lower birth rate.’
Note. I do think the above davos thing is true. I personally do not think Covid was intentionally introduced. But the quip on gdp growth is a good question as it highlights the asker does not understand the basic framework of the other side. And understanding the other side is the realistic goal of these discussions as a prerequisite to arriving at synthesis.
Heh, this reminds me of the one time I was able to have a short conversation with someone who I found out believed the Twin Tower attacks to be an inside job. I asked them what the motivation for doing so would be, and the reply was "it's all about the money, man!" Didn't quite know what to do with that, though unfortunately that was also about at the point I had to catch a train.
Something like instead of saying "well more people die of the flu every year than die of COVID!" you would ask "how do you think the severity of this disease compares to other things we deal with, like the flu?"
"Why does the government want a lower population - don't they usually want more people to grow the economy?"