International Conflicts and Overpopulation: Approaching Nightfall

Environmental degradation is proportional to the number of humans. Despite a general decrease in birth rates, the global population continues to grow. The tendencies of decrease are insufficient to achieve sustainability within a realistic time frame. High fertility is used for geopolitical advance and should be counteracted. In countries with insufficiently observed human rights, de facto reproductive coercion is used for birth rate elevation. International conflicts are motives to boost fertility, since the military needs young people. Birth control has been rejected in some countries on the grounds of presumed national interests, such as stronger defences and sovereignty, which can be bolstered by demographic growth. Smouldering international conflicts contribute to birth rate elevation in some regions. Of note, durable peace is needed to accomplish large environment protection initiatives, in particular, nuclear, thermonuclear, hydroelectric power plants, and other energy sources instead of oil and coal. Notwithstanding the prospects of cheaper and cleaner energy, there is currently no alternative to a decline in regional and global populations. It seems to be inevitable that the population will become reduced during the present century. How this happens may be to some extent within our control. It will not remain so indefinitely.