Smaller human population in 2100 could importantly reduce the risk of climate catastrophe

• Author: Dean Spears
• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Whether or not pursuing a smaller 2100 human population than otherwise would occur is, on net, a recommended policy goal depends critically on alternatives, on costs, and on the nature of the population policy. Some historical efforts to reduce population size have caused considerable harm. Moreover, many of the present-day high-emissions populations have comparatively lower fertility. Human development—suchas improving health, education, and women’s social status—could encourage parents tofreely choose to reduce population size while improving average well-being, and could therefore be an exception to the standardclaim that development is in conflict withclimate policy.