"The debate regarding which individual factor, among the three key factors producing the environmental crisis, causes more damage - the size of the human population on the planet, excessive consumption of resources or unequal/ unjust distribution of resources among countries [the wealthier countries consume much more resources than poorer countries] - is like a debate about which contributes more to a triangle, the base or the ribs of the triangle. You can not separate the three factors. If we analyze the numbers over a relatively longer time interval, we will conclude that the size of the population has a bigger impact than consumption. On the other hand, consumption and unequal distribution are also important aspects. If we do not change these three factors all at the same time, the quality of our life will change dramatically. Today humanity is delivering a serious blow to nature, but it is clear that nature will deliver the final blow."
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Academics from the United StatesEnvironmentalists from the United StatesBiologists from the United StatesEntomologistsEcologists
Original Language: English
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Paul Ehrlich, People should produce far fewer children, or expect the worst (Dec. 2012), Haaretz
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_R._Ehrlich
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Paul R. Ehrlich
Paul Ralph Ehrlich (May 29, 1932 – March 15, 2026) was an American biologist, best known for his warnings about the consequences of population growth and limited resources.
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