Stable or declining population is not intrinsically a problem. For example, many environmental issues just go away if there are substantially fewer people. The

Stable or declining population is not intrinsically a problem. For example, many environmental issues just go away if there are substantially fewer people. The problem is that we currently have a system built on the assumptions of growing population and growing GDP and 1) it's not clear how to adapt and 2) most people have their head in the sand. Conventional (neo-liberal) economics hasn't exactly been an outstanding success so there is no reason to continue to follow that model, but our political processes are very myopic so it's hard to get the long term planning needed to change.