Too Many People on Earth? Why Impact Matters More Than Numbers
- Rachel Bailleau
- Sep 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 27
It only takes finding ourselves at a train station at rush hour, stuck in a traffic jam, or standing in a crowded market to be reminded just how many people there are on Earth. When we look at our home planet from space and see the countless lights of cities stretching across continents, it can feel as if no wildness remains.
Surely, we need to reduce the population to give the earth a fighting chance? It’s an understandable conclusion to make, but the truth is a lot more complicated (and hopeful). In reality, the number of people on Earth is far less important than the choices each of us makes and the impact of our lifestyles on the world around us.
For example, the average person in Sub-Saharan Africa produces about 1 ton of CO₂ per year, while the average person in North America produces around 15 tons. That means one person in North America can create as much pollution in a few weeks as someone in Africa does in a whole year.
Of course, life for many people in Africa is not as comfortable as in North America, to say the least. But the good news is that it is possible to have a safe and joyful life while producing far less pollution than the richest countries today. It’s not simply about how many people there are, but how we live. Making better choices, such as using clean energy, eating sustainably, and protecting nature, has a greater impact than worrying about population numbers.
Population Growth Is Slowing
Even if that wasn’t true, the good news is that birth rates are declining in almost every part of the world. As people’s lives improve, they tend to have fewer children, and while the total population is still rising, this is mostly because people are living longer. Centuries ago, around half of all babies did not survive childhood, so population growth was very different from today. The growth we see now is a sign of longer life, not an indication that people are suddenly having “too many kids.”
We have already passed what scientists call “peak baby.” This means that the number of children being born has stopped increasing rapidly, and in some countries it is already declining. And at the same time, individuals with larger families often have a lower impact on the planet than those with smaller families who consume more resources. So, simply counting children without looking at lifestyle and consumption can be misleading. It is not just the number of people on Earth but how we live that shapes the health of our planet.
Ethics and Reality Behind "Too Many People on Earth"
It is also important to consider the ethics of population control. Even if it weren’t true that birth rates are slowing and lifestyle is more important than headcounts, there is no ethical way to reduce the population forcibly. Who would make such a decision? Who gets to decide whose lives matter less? Historically, attempts at population control have often targeted the poor, marginalised, and vulnerable people. It usually came down to lines of race. Forcibly sterilising, harming, or controlling billions of people is obviously as unethical as you can get. But it also doesn't make logical sense.
One kilowatt-hour of electricity today produces far less pollution than it did decades ago, thanks to cleaner energy sources and more efficient technologies. Similarly, innovations in transport, agriculture, and building design can allow everyone to live well while reducing their environmental impact, restoring biodiversity, and stabilising the climate. The focus should be on improving how we live, not limiting who gets to live.
People Can Make a Positive Difference
When we talk about reducing population as a climate solution, we overlook a crucial point: people can be a force for good. Individuals and communities are capable of creating tremendous positive change. Rajendra Singh, often called the “Waterman of India,” helped revive five dying rivers in India with simple community-led projects.
Nemonte Nenquimo, an Indigenous leader from the Waorani Nation in Ecuador, has devoted her life to protecting the Amazon rainforest. She led her community to victory in a landmark lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government that protected half a million acres of ancestral land from oil drilling.
If one person can have this level of positive impact, then more people willing to act for the planet are a tremendous benefit, not a burden. Focusing on population numbers alone ignores the real potential of people to restore rivers, protect forests, and lead the way to a healthier, more sustainable world.
Focus on Impact, Not Numbers
The real challenge we face is not the number of people, but how society operates. Our current global system relies on exploiting the Earth and its resources to enrich a few while the majority of people live in scarcity. This does not have to be the way we live. We can create a world where both people and the planet thrive.
And we can be part of that change today. Eating a more sustainable diet, travelling more slowly, using renewable energy, and making space for wilderness in your garden can all make a meaningful difference. It might feel like these actions are too small, but they are essential to changing collective consciousness, so larger-scale positive change becomes inevitable.
What Makes Sense for the Future
Much of the fear around too many people on Earth comes from a scarcity mindset, the idea that if some people thrive, others must go without, or that doing the right thing for the planet will always cost too much. This mindset can make solutions feel impossible and make us anxious about population, resources, or change.
The truth is that we already have the tools and solutions to address climate change. Project Drawdown and other research bodies have carefully costed out climate solutions, from renewable energy and energy efficiency to sustainable agriculture and forest restoration, and found that implementing them is not only affordable but often cheaper than doing nothing. Reducing fossil fuels and pollution can improve health, save lives, and protect ecosystems at the same time.
If we shift to an abundance mindset, we start to see possibilities rather than limits. With cleaner energy, restored forests, slower and more sustainable transport, and more plant-based or locally grown food, everyone can have a high quality of life while reducing their impact. By valuing both human well-being and the health of the Earth, we can create systems where people and nature thrive together. The planet is not overpopulated. It is under-loved. When we focus on what we can create rather than what we lack, everything changes, and we can build a future where everyone has the chance to flourish.
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