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The question then is, can we lift enough people out of poverty before they reproduce themselves (and us) into extinction?

• remcob 7y ago
  As others have explained in this thread: Yes, easily, the projection is that population will top off soon and start declining. It is unlikely (frankly ridiculous) that we will go extinct in the next few decades because of overpopulation. Also, be careful with the we/them separation. 'They' will lift themselves out of poverty, just like 'we' did.
• gumbo 7y ago
  This... the them and us dichotomy is really telling. There are different lenses through which to view the world: a collaborative one. Someone could also say something similar with regard to pollution, where it’s not the poor countries that are posing today an extension threat to the world.
• hackeraccount 7y ago
  The idea that poverty is harder on the environment then wealth is one that people are having a hard time wrapping their minds around. I think it plays against the idea that we should be punished for success and rewarded for frugality. The idea that you can just pay money to get out of environmental problems strikes everyone as unfair. I think that's a fair description of how the world really works though.
  • yesbabyyes 7y ago
    I think you have a sadly distorted view of the world. How do you believe that money paid affects your surroundings, really?
• MaxBarraclough 7y ago
  > reproduce themselves (and us) into extinction How would that work? A catastrophic population crash would have a cause, and high population isn't itself a cause. If we're talking overconsumption, that's a different conversation.