Population and the Environment: Toward a Theory of Environmental Malthusianism
Publication Date
1-1-1997
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
Sturm College of Law
Keywords
Overpopulation, Population growth, Family planning, Abortion, Free trade, Immigration
Abstract
Present governmental and environmental policy is curative and reactive in nature, directed towards cleaning up past environmental disasters and passing laws to limit pollutants emitted by individuals and enterprises. Such policies fail to recognize that the root causes of environmental degredation are the result of an exponentially expanding population and a rising standard of living. No environmental programme can be successful without controlling population and reforming governmental policies in the areas of family planning, abortion, immigration, and economic regulation. Controlling population by liberalizing family planning and abortion laws is a more human approach than reducing standards of living, especially in developing countries, where poverty is the cause of so much misery.
Recommended Citation
Robert Hardaway, Population and the Environment: Toward a Theory of Environmental Malthusianism, 7 Int. J. Env't Pollution 8 (1997).