Scientists propose halving Earth’s population

Tengrinews.kz — A group of scientists has concluded that reducing Earth’s population by half from its current level would reduce pressure on natural resources and contribute to a more sustainable future. Their work was published in the journal Sustainable Development, citing Naked Science.

More than eight billion people currently live on Earth. At the same time, humanity is placing enormous pressure on ecosystems. To reduce the impact on the environment, scientists proposed gradually lowering the population to four billion people by 2200.

The authors acknowledged that such conclusions may seem misanthropic or authoritarian. However, they argue that this should be viewed as a humane strategy for long-term survival.

In their view, such a strategy would benefit both nature and humanity. The researchers believe that reducing the population would ease pressure on natural resources and reduce environmental pollution. It would also affect poverty levels in regions with high birth rates, lead to fewer conflicts over resources and less migration, while the quality of life in densely populated areas would, by contrast, improve.

At the same time, the authors assured that there is no need to use coercive forms of population control. Instead, they proposed using opportunities for social development in poor regions with high birth rates. One such measure, they said, is access to education for girls.

When women gained access to education and the ability to make decisions about having children, birth rates stabilized naturally. The scientists cited Iran, South Korea and Costa Rica as examples. In these countries, birth rates fell by almost half over 10–20 years, to replacement level or below.

At the same time, the idea of population reduction has many critics. They note that many problems are related not to the number of people on the planet, but to unequal access to resources. Opponents also recall that past attempts to control population size led to forced sterilization and restrictions on reproductive rights.

However, the study’s authors argue that their idea differs from previous ones. The researchers recalled that the planet’s resources are limited and cannot endlessly support rising prosperity and material consumption. In their view, achieving sustainable development requires both slowing population growth and reducing each person’s impact on the environment.