Will Overpopulation Become Less of a Problem?

We’ve been hearing for years that overpopulation is one of the main challenges facing the environment. Scientists say there are simply not enough resources on the planet to meet the energy needs of the 9 billion people predicted to exist by 2050.

Quietly, though, women all over the world are choosing to have fewer babies. Especially in developing countries, women are embracing their independence and pursuing careers, waiting until they’re older to have children, and having fewer of them. Modern medicine gives babies a better chance of surviving past infancy, which means that women feel that fewer pregnancies are necessary. In the U.S., the birth rate has been dropping since the 1960s, more sharply over the last few years.

A stable population may help solve environmental problems such as climate change and water scarcity, excellent news for an already-stressed planet.

--Sophie Matson