Is population growth the elephant in the room?

In this episode of E+T: Off the Page, the team delves into the often-overlooked topic of global population growth and its significant impact on sustainability and resource use. Regular contributors Tim Fryer, Jack Loughran and Tanya Weaver are joined by special guests Chris Edwards and Dr Joe Strong to explore how population trends affect energy, food production, and environmental pressures worldwide. The conversation opens with reflections on COP28's discussions around fossil fuel reduction and financial support for low-income countries, setting the stage for a debate on whether global population growth is the unspoken factor in climate change solutions. Together, they question whether humanity can balance family size preferences with sustainable resource consumption.

Edwards and Dr Strong also share insights from their respective work, unpacking the complex dynamics between population growth and sustainable development. The episode includes discussions of how population projections are not as extreme as once feared, noting a likely peak around 10 billion by mid-century, with Africa contributing significantly to that growth. Dr Strong also challenges the concept of "overpopulation," arguing that population issues are often political and related to resource distribution rather than sheer numbers.