Many see overpopulation as the greatest threat of our timeand even figures like prince Harry have argued for limiting their numbers of children as a result. Yet Japan and Russia already have declining populations, and some predict China's too will soon plunge. Peak children has already arrived. Might Elon Musk be right that the real threat is not population growth, but rather a collapsing global population, with untold consequences for prosperity and human development? Or with nearly 8 billion humans on the planet is a radical reduction in numbers the only sustainable solution?
Author of On the Future Martin Rees, author of The Human Tide, Paul Morland and former leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett debate debate the perils of population.