There weren't over three billion people living in the west during the time you speak of as there currently are in Asia. There aren't even that many people in th

There weren't over three billion people living in the west during the time you speak of as there currently are in Asia. There aren't even that many people in the west now. China, India, Indonesia, etc "catching up" is a great goal to work towards but not at the cost of ecosystem collapse and permanently wreaking the oceans.