The current population represents something unprecedented in the history of the world.  Never before has one species had such a great impact on the environment in such a short time and continued to increase at as rapid a rate.  These qualities make the human  population issue the environmental issue.  This section should foster your understanding of concepts covered in the text relating to the population problem and the issues that are relevant to achieving a constant world population.  Among these issues is the following question: How can environmental science be used to reduce population growth while taking into consideration the widely divergent views from one country to another on human rights, values relating to birth control and reproduction and ethics. 

A CLOSER LOOK  - The Prophecy of Malthus. 

   Almost two hundred years ago the English economist Thomas Malthus eloquently stated the human population problem.  He based his argument on the following premises: food is necessary for survival; children will continue to be born, and; the power of population growth is "indefinitely greater than the power of the Earth to produce subsistence."  Malthus's projections of the ultimate fate of humankind were dire, including "gigantic famine" on a global scale.  To this day critics of Malthus point out that his predictions have not come true because technology has provided a way out, allowing us to live in greater densities.  These critics have argued that our technologies will continue to save us from a Malthusian fate and that therefore we need not worry about the growth of the human population. 

   Who is correct?  Although Malthus may have been wrong about the timing, in a finite world he must be correct about the ultimate outcome of unchecked growth.  How can we achieve a constant world population, or at least halt the increase in the population, in a way that is most beneficial to most people? The answer must be based on the application of sound environmental science coupled with arguments about rights, values, and ethics within a global perspective.