[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Video” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color=”#054368″ height=”35px” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”35px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” max_height=”35px” max_height_tablet=”” max_height_phone=”35px” max_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”35px” height=”35px” max_height=”35px” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” make_fullwidth=”on” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/alienation\/#newsletter” button_text=”Join our Newsletter” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600|||||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”font-family: %22Playfair Display%22″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”30px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#084369″ custom_margin=”|||||” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#084369″ custom_margin=”|||||” custom_padding=”||30px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Mosaic (1)” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||50px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Grid” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”90%” max_width=”90%” custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”off” custom_width_percent=”90%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”M-1_grid” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (1)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item1 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Guests-raise-their-glasses-aboard-a-yacht-during-a-party.jpg” background_position=”center_right” text_orientation=”center” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”250ms” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover=”50%” custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
The Real Problem is Consumerism<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (2)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item2 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Overpopulation-newspaper-cartoon.jpg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”400ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover=”50%” custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
The Predictions Failed<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (3)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item3 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_3_font=”Playfair Display SC|900|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_font_size=”3vh” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A-father-holds-his-two-children-and-smiles-for-the-camera.jpg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”550ms” global_colors_info=”{}” header_text_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” filter_opacity__hover=”50%” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
The Solution to More People is More People<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (4)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item4 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A-young-man-enjoys-a-beautiful-sunrise-from-a-high-vista.jpg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”500ms” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover=”50%” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
We Flourish When We Cooperate with God<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (5) – Gap Fill” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item5 grid-item_gap-fill” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”||||||||” background_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” filter_opacity__hover=”50%”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (5)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item5 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mao-Zedong-Chinese-propaganda-poster.jpg” background_position=”top_center” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”550ms” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover=”50%” custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
Fears Nurtured a Culture of Death<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Grid Item (6)” module_class=”M-1_grid-item M-1_grid-item6 fade-text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” text_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”||||||||” background_image=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A-small-girl-kisses-her-mother-while-shopping-at-a-farmers-market.jpg” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”450ms” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-in-out” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on” text_text_color__hover=”#084369″ filter_opacity__hover=”50%” custom_css_main_element__hover_enabled=”on”]<\/p>\n
The Data Reveals We are Thriving<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”20px||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px||20px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#EB7425″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”23px” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” width=”65%” custom_padding=”10px|20px|10px|20px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”10px|20px|10px|20px|true|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px|0px|10px|0px|true|false” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#eb7425″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”20px||10px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px||10px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#EB7425″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” module_id=”predictions” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_popup_slug=”predictions” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”20px||10px||false|false” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#eb7425″ custom_padding=”||10px” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”20px||0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Paul-R.-Ehrlich-proponet-of-the-population-bomb.jpg” alt=”Biologist Paul Ehrlich contributed to fears of overpopulation with his apocalyptic Population Bomb prediction.” title_text=”Paul R. Ehrlich, proponet of the population bomb” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”10px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
For more than half a century, the world has feared that human numbers would overwhelm the planet\u2019s ability to sustain life. Governments and experts warned of famine, resource exhaustion, and ecological collapse. The \u201cpopulation bomb,\u201d they said, was ticking.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In 1968, biologist Paul Ehrlich made his infamous prediction: “Hundreds of millions of people will starve to death<\/strong>\u2026nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate.”\u00a0(Paul Ehrlich, The Population Bomb (New York: Ballantine Books, 1968), p. 11)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He was specific: India, he said, couldn’t possibly feed two hundred million more people by 1980<\/strong>. The battle to feed humanity was over. Mass death was inevitable. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”READ MORE” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ module_class=”hover-btn-border read-more” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” title_font_size=”14px” title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px|20px|” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Reality delivered a different verdict<\/strong>. India’s population today exceeds 1.4 billion\u2014over three times larger than Ehrlich’s “impossible” threshold\u2014and Indians are better fed than ever before. Global extreme poverty didn’t increase; it fell by 90% since 1990. (World Bank)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The-Club-of-Rome-at-the-1972-annual-meeting.png” alt=”The Club of Rome, pictured here at their annual meeting in 1972, stoked the flames of overpopulation fears.” title_text=”The Club of Rome at the 1972 annual meeting” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”10px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Paul Ehrlich wasn’t alone in planting the seeds of overpopulation. In 1972, the Club of Rome issued its influential report Limits to Growth<\/em>, concluding that if current growth trends continued unchanged, the limits to growth on Earth would be reached sometime within the next one hundred years\u2014by 2072.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The report predicted: \u201cGiven present resource consumption rates and the projected increase in these rates, the great majority of currently nonrenewable resources will be extremely expensive 100 years from now.\u201d (Limits to Growth, 1972)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”|||50px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/A-portrait-of-Thomas-Malthus-the-creator-of-the-Malthusian-Theory-of-Population.jpg” alt=”Thomas Malthus, in the late 18th century, treated humans as merely consumers of resources, not as creators of solutions.” title_text=”A portrait of Thomas Malthus, the creator of the Malthusian Theory of Population” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”10px||20px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n These predictions rested on a theory first articulated by Thomas Malthus in 1798: that population grows geometrically (2, 4, 8, 16) while food and resources grow only arithmetically (2, 3, 4, 5),<\/strong> leading inevitably to scarcity, famine, and collapse.<\/span><\/p>\n The logic seemed airtight. Population had indeed grown rapidly\u2014from 3 billion in 1960 to over 4 billion by 1974. Poverty and hunger were visible across the developing world. Recent memories of wartime scarcity made shortage seem plausible.<\/span><\/p>\n But these models made a critical error<\/strong>: they treated humans as merely consumers of resources, never as creators of solutions. They counted mouths to feed but never hands to work or minds to innovate. They saw people as the problem, not as the answer.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” module_id=”whathappened” da_popup_slug=”whathappened” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” max_height=”10px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#eb7425″ custom_padding=”||10px” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ link_font=”||on||||||” max_width=”80%” max_width_tablet=”60%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”20px||0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”20px||0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px||0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Our-world-in-data-world-population-growth-as-a-line-chart-from-1950-to-2100-scaled.png” alt=”Overpopulation is la contributor to declining fertility rates globally in the 20th and 21st centuries.” title_text=”Our world in data, world population growth as a line chart from 1950 to 2100″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Far from an “explosion,” humanity is entering an era of demographic contraction<\/b>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/An-indian-boy-at-school-amiling-with-a-paper-on-his-head.jpg” alt=”Contrary to overpopulation fears and scenarios, extreme poverty has fallen dramatically.” title_text=”An indian boy at school amiling with a paper on his head” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||” custom_padding_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||” custom_padding_phone=”20px||20px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The doomsday forecasts of mass poverty and famine have proven dramatically wrong.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But what about the China challenge<\/strong>\u2014the argument that population control caused prosperity?<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/is-the-world-overpopulated\/” button_text=”LEARN MORE” button_alignment=”left” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_text_color=”#054368″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||40px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”20px||20px||true|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|40px|30px|40px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”20px|40px|20px|40px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|true” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”title” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”||20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|||” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” max_height=”10px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_align=”center” header_4_text_color=”#eb7425″ custom_padding=”||10px” custom_padding_tablet=”||10px” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|off” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”30px||30px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”|50px|10px|” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”|50px|20px|” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]This wasn’t merely an academic debate. Ideas have consequences, and the consequences of population alarmism were devastating\u2014particularly for the world’s poor.<\/span><\/p>\n Over the following decades, fear of population growth justified policies that would have been unthinkable in any other context. In India during the mid 1970s, more than 11 million people were sterilized<\/strong>\u2014many under coercion, some at gunpoint. In China, the one-child policy led to forced abortions, abandoned daughters, and a demographic catastrophe still unfolding today. In Peru, indigenous women were sterilized without their knowledge or consent.<\/span><\/p>\n These weren’t isolated abuses. They were systematic campaigns<\/strong>, often funded by Western governments and international organizations convinced they were saving the planet.<\/span>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”READ MORE” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ module_class=”hover-btn-border read-more” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” title_font_size=”14px” title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|40px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px|20px|” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Church entered this conversation<\/strong> not as a demographic analyst, but as the guardian of human dignity<\/strong>. As Pope St. Paul VI wrote in 1967, \u201cThere is the rapid increase in population which has made many fear that world population is going to grow faster than available resources\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(Humanae Vitae, 2)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n The Church insisted on asking a different question<\/strong>: Not \u201cHow do we reduce human numbers?\u201d but \u201cHow do we build societies that respect every human life?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/An-old-rusting-rocking-horse-on-a-playground-stands-unused.jpg” alt=”Fear of overpopulation justified policies that would have been unthinkable in any other context” title_text=”An old rusting rocking horse on a playground stands unused” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”|50px|20px|” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px” custom_padding_phone=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n This wasn’t merely an academic debate. Ideas have consequences, and the consequences of population alarmism were devastating\u2014particularly for the world’s poor.<\/span><\/p>\n Over the following decades, fear of population growth justified policies that would have been unthinkable in any other context. In India during the mid 1970s, more than 11 million people were sterilized<\/strong>\u2014many under coercion, some at gunpoint. In China, the one-child policy led to forced abortions, abandoned daughters, and a demographic catastrophe still unfolding today. In Peru, indigenous women were sterilized without their knowledge or consent.<\/p>\n These weren’t isolated abuses. They were systematic campaigns<\/strong>, often funded by Western governments and international organizations convinced they were saving the planet.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”READ MORE” icon_color=”#054368″ open_icon_color=”#054368″ module_class=”hover-btn-border read-more” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_text_color=”#054368″ title_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” title_font_size=”14px” title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”|40px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px|20px|” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]The Church entered this conversation<\/strong> not as a demographic analyst, but as the guardian of human dignity<\/strong>. As Pope St. Paul VI wrote in 1967, \u201cThere is the rapid increase in population which has made many fear that world population is going to grow faster than available resources\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0(Humanae Vitae, 2)<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n The Church insisted on asking a different question<\/strong>: Not \u201cHow do we reduce human numbers?\u201d but \u201cHow do we build societies that respect every human life?\u201d<\/span>[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ max_width=”50px” module_alignment=”center” max_height=”10px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_color=”#f2f2f2″ custom_padding=”40px||30px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” module_id=”lastargument” da_popup_slug=”lastargument” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”title” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”||20px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”|||” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Not An End ” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” animation_delay=”200ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”20px|0px|20px|0px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||” custom_padding_phone=”20px||20px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Factories-produce-greenbhouse-gas-emissions-near-a-harbor.jpg” alt=”The Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d.” title_text=”Factories produce greenbhouse gas emissions near a harbor” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”bullets-module” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n So, while GHG has markedly increased, is this caused by too many people?<\/span><\/p>\n The Catholic Church affirms our responsibility to care for our \u201ccommon home\u201d. (Environmental Degradation)<\/a> Terms like \u201cclimate action\u201d and \u201cclimate justice\u201d are valid\u2014when understood through Catholic Social Teaching. Climate justice, rightly understood, is an act of faith and a work of mercy. It promotes the Common Good<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’<\/a> is among the most urgent and comprehensive treatments of ecological degradation. The Church affirms that care of creation is a moral imperative, not an optional concern.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n But diagnosis matters. Is climate change caused by too many people, or by how some people live? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” admin_label=”Section” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”20px||10px||false|false” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Summary” module_class=”mosaic_width” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_color=”#054368″ custom_padding=”0px||20px||false|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”750ms” hover_enabled=”0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” module_id=”consumerism” da_popup_slug=”consumerism” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” disabled_on=”on|on|off” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”20px|0px|20px|0px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||” custom_padding_phone=”” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|40px|10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”0px||10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”|40px|10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Church has long taught that the world’s crisis is not one of numbers but of values. The true imbalance lies not between people and resources, but between excess and want\u2014between those who consume far too much and those who have far too little.<\/span><\/p>\n Population alarmism was not merely an error of data\u2014it was a moral failure, rooted in a loss of confidence in the human person and a forgetfulness of God’s providence.<\/span><\/p>\n But more fundamentally, it was a misdiagnosis. The prophets of doom blamed the wrong culprit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Consumerism, simply but elegantly defined, is: A style of life directed towards \u201chaving\u201d rather than \u201cbeing.\u201d<\/strong> It is a \u201cweb of false and superficial gratifications.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 41)<\/a><\/p>\n It is a mindset where \u201cthe acquisition of worldly goods can lead men to greed, to the unrelenting desire for more.\u201d (Pope St. Paul VI, 18)<\/a> <\/span>This \u201cexclusive pursuit of material possessions prevents man’s growth as a human being and stands in opposition to his true grandeur. <\/span>Avarice, in individuals and in nations, is the most obvious form of stultified moral development<\/b>. (Pope St. Paul VI, 19)<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A person who is concerned solely or primarily with possessing and enjoying\u2014who can no longer subordinate his instincts\u2014cannot be free<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”READ MORE” icon_color=”#ffffff” open_icon_color=”#ffffff” module_class=”hover-btn-border read-more” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font=”Open Sans|600|||||||” title_font_size=”14px” title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”#054368″ custom_margin=”|40px|||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|0px|20px|” custom_margin_phone=”|||0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_width_all=”0px” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display SC,Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n When we mistake consumption for fulfillment, we create a double crisis: spiritual poverty among the affluent, and material deprivation among the poor.<\/span><\/p>\n The Data Are Clear<\/span><\/p>\n Studies consistently show that the affluent are responsible for a disproportionate share of global environmental harm.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_button button_url=”\/the-real-problem-consumerism-and-overconsumption\/” button_text=”LEARN MORE” button_alignment=”left” module_class=”hover-btn-border” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_font=”|600||on|||||” button_icon=”5||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_margin=”|40px|||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”10px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The-Amazon-logo-on-one-of-the-shopping-giants-warehouses.jpg” alt=”The real cause of our environmental problems is not overpopulation, not overconsumption.” title_text=”The Amazon logo on one of the shopping giant’s warehouses” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”mosaic_width ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#054368″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#eb7525″ header_5_font=”||||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_phone=”|-99px||-99px” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|phone” custom_padding=”|40px|0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” inline_fonts=”Playfair Display” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Church has long taught that the world’s crisis is not one of numbers but of values. The true imbalance lies not between people and resources, but between excess and want\u2014between those who consume far too much and those who have far too little.<\/span><\/p>\n Population alarmism was not merely an error of data\u2014it was a moral failure, rooted in a loss of confidence in the human person and a forgetfulness of God’s providence.<\/span><\/p>\n But more fundamentally, it was a misdiagnosis. The prophets of doom blamed the wrong culprit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Club of Rome<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Malthusian Theory<\/span><\/h2>\n
What Actually<\/em> Happened<\/span><\/h4>\n
Several broad and measurable trends show that the global picture looks very different from what mid-twenty century \u201cpopulation alarmists\u201d predicted.<\/h5>\n
Population Trends: Proving Predictions Wrong<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Economic Outcomes: Prosperity, Not Poverty<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
This data tells a profoundly different story: When human creativity is unleashed, population growth can coincide with unprecedented improvements in well-being.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Population Bomb Never Exploded<\/span><\/h4>\n
Was there ever an overpopulation problem?<\/h5>\n
From the Church\u2019s perspective, the problem was never people themselves<\/strong>. The real question is not how many people the Earth can hold, but how we understand the human person.<\/h5>\n
As Pope St. John XXIII taught even before the population panic began, God has placed \u201cwell-nigh inexhaustible\u201d resources in creation and given humankind the intelligence to develop them responsibly.<\/h5>\n
Mater et Magistra, 189<\/a><\/h5>\n
Why this Matters<\/span><\/h4>\n
The Stakes<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”off|off|on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”40px||50px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”47px||50px|||” custom_padding_phone=”10px||10px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/An-old-rusting-rocking-horse-on-a-playground-stands-unused.jpg” alt=”Fear of overpopulation justified policies that would have been unthinkable in any other context” title_text=”An old rusting rocking horse on a playground stands unused” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#054368″ header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#084369″ custom_padding=”|50px|10px|” custom_padding_tablet=”|50px|10px|” custom_padding_phone=”10px|50px|10px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nThe Stakes<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Last Remaining Argument<\/span><\/h4>\n
<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u201c<\/span>Aren’t Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Climate Change Proof of Overpopulation?\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n
The nearly doubling of GHG since 1970 has coincided with a global temperature rise of approximately 1.2 \u00b0C above pre-industrial levels.<\/h5>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||10px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”0px||10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nAcknowledging Reality
<\/span><\/h2>\nNo, Climate Change is Not Proof of Overpopulation<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
The Real Problem is Consumerism<\/span><\/h4>\n
What Is Consumerism?<\/span><\/h5>\n
<\/span><\/h5>\n
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”off|off|on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”25px|0px|25px|0px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||” custom_padding_phone=”20px||20px||true|false” animation_style=”fade” animation_delay=”200ms” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/The-Amazon-logo-on-one-of-the-shopping-giants-warehouses.jpg” alt=”The real cause of our environmental problems is not overpopulation, not overconsumption.” title_text=”The Amazon logo on one of the shopping giant’s warehouses” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px” custom_padding_phone=”20px||” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”ds-vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#ffffff” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|40px|10px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||0px” custom_padding_phone=”0px||10px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nThe Real Problem is Consumerism<\/span><\/h4>\n