> There are parts of the world (for example, Africa) where population has been increasing ridiculously [...] Africa is big, so it's a very coarse way of narrow

> There are parts of the world (for example, Africa) where population has been increasing ridiculously [...] Africa is big, so it's a very coarse way of narrowing down a location. Population pressure is a multiplier, so people in poor countries with few cars and a diet that does not depend on cross-country transport of food have a smaller impact on environment than fewer people accustomed to a more expensive life style. > When there's news that the population of Japan is decreasing people talk about it as if it's a catastrophe. An aging or decreasing population can be a catastrophe, but not because of environmental effects; the concerns are of a social nature, as a shrinking population usually means a reduction in essential services. The one child policy that was active for years in China has left a characteristic mark on the demographics, leading to a small population of young people supporting a large population of old people.