Developed countries have a fertility rate below the replacement rate. The population growth we are seeing now is caused by mortality decreasing in developing c

Developed countries have a fertility rate below the replacement rate. The population growth we are seeing now is caused by mortality decreasing in developing countries. If history is an accurate guide, the birthrate will naturally follow and global population will plateau without the need for any catastrophe. Of course, we are experiencing this period of population growth, at the same time as an environmental catastrophe, that we know will cause large scale displacement, so it is not obvious if we will make it to the "natural" population plateuo, or hit some less pleasent wall.