Why COP26 Will Probably Fail: The Unmentionable Human Overpopulation

Wayne from Levin

There seems to be little or no mention of human overpopulation at COP26. Probably because it's to hard politically for discussion to be allowed. If Earth is to be saved, Governments and politicians, including ours, and we as individuals will have to commit to change many of their and our most cherished established beliefs and behaviours. At present Governments and individuals worldwide are wasting their time and resources dealing with the symptoms; not the actual disease. We need to accept the inconvenient truth, that there are far too many of us for our planet to sustain. Our unrestricted population growth is the real problem. There is a general consensus among experts, that the maximum human population that Earth can sustain, without any further degradation of our environment, and further extinction of other species is somewhere between 500 Million and 2 Billion. We are already closing in on 8 Billion with future estimated growth this century to 12 Billion, and up to a million other species at risk of extinction.

Some beliefs and behaviours that do need to become extinct:

1. The belief that universal, free birth control is not essential. Feeding the millions dying of famine is at best only a band aid fix.

2. The belief that an individual or country's consumption, of far more than their fair share of Earth's limited or finite resources, should depend only upon their ability to pay: not upon any consideration of the morality of their choices, or the damage to our environment. We need more cooperation and sharing, not more competition for resources. We cannot keep on allowing conspicuous, unnecessary consumption by the wealthy countries and individuals, like private jets, private yachts, and fossil-fueled international travel and tourism limited only by the ability to pay. The race to space tourism, unnecessary fossil-fueled driving, motor sport, and boy racers are all crimes against our environment. Regulation and rationing of individual entitlements will, in time, be seen as essential to save our planet.

3.The belief that societies cannot survive without continued growth, and that any and all growth, including population growth is good. Earth desperately needs population reduction. Having more than 1 child is a crime against our environment and planet.

4. We will have to ban nearly all plastics and artificial textiles. Plastics, and their offspring microplastics particles are invading and damaging our environment, our food chains, and our bodies. Fashion is another crime against our planet.

I fear that human nature and greed will not allow us to change our beliefs, and sense of entitlement to more than our fair share, and we will not be able to reduce our global overpopulation and overconsumption of resources in time to save our environment and planet. If that is so, in time, nature will do it for us the way it always has, by wars over resources, famines, and pandemics. I am glad that I will not have to see the world that my children and grandchildren will live in.

Madagascar is a horror story, and also an extreme example of what happens when human overpopulation is not addressed.

Why ‘Food Aid’ Won’t Solve Famine in Madagascar

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