Political leaders fret about the ‘fertility crisis’. That’s nonsense, experts say. There’s a desperate need for population shrinkage
In the face of the climate crisis, resource exhaustion and biodiversity calamities, corporations and governments remain wedded to the notion of eternal growth.
But there’s a growing movement trying to slow or stop the rate of increase. Or even to shrink the economy to save the world. And they’re not talking about reducing the quality of life anywhere, let alone in developing economies. They’re talking about sustainability, valuing resources other than money and recognising that infinite growth is impossible, and the pursuit of it catastrophic to the planet.
The latest push for growth has focused on the fertility “crisis”, the ageing population and their flow-on effects to the economy.With fertility rates plunging, the pool of young taxpayers will shrink and become incapable of supporting the swelling ranks of the old, the argument goes. And a growing population means a growing economy, which means … what, exactly?
While economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty, it has hardly delivered equality. Statistics show the largesse overwhelmingly ends up in the pockets of the already-rich. And endless economic growth is inextricably tied to consumption, which in turn is disrupting the parallel push for sustainability.
The world’s population is, at this point, still growing. Nandita Bajaj, the executive director of the US non-profit Population Balance, says there’s a taboo around discussing population among those who oppose eternal growth. She told a forum this week that population and consumption (and therefore emissions) go hand in hand but there are reasons the left and the degrowth movement duck the conversation.
Even though the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says “globally, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and population growth remained the strongest drivers of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the last decade”, Bajaj says people are still “so nervous” to talk about the connection. It’s a taboo.
As for fears about an ageing population, she says, these are based on flawed assumptions. “Like that everyone over 70 is basically senile, and that all the baby boomers will end up in aged care,” she says.“Most of them are making an incredible contribution. Many are still in the workforce … and those who have retired are operating a free babysitting service for their grandchildren.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/18/slow-the-growth-save-the-world-why-declining-birth-rates-need-not-mean-an-end-to-prosperity
Slow the growth, save the world? Why declining birth rates need not mean an end to prosperity
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