“If every women were to bear only one natural child the population of the Earth would fall by 50% in about 40 years without war, disease, migration…it’s interesting that such a simple solution would have such an enormous impact on problems generally thought to be intractable.”—Terence McKenna

Population growth is a topic that makes people uncomfortable. No person or government wants to tell people how many children they should have. But ignoring it won’t make it go away. The global population surpassed eight billion in 2022, and while growth rates are slowing in some regions, the sheer number of people competing for finite resources is pushing ecosystems—and societies—to the brink.

According to the Global Footprint Network, humanity currently consumes resources at a rate 1.75 times faster than the Earth can regenerate. That’s not just unsustainable; it’s ecological theft, borrowing from future generations with no intention of paying it back. Climate change, deforestation, freshwater depletion—these aren’t abstract threats. They’re the receipts of overconsumption, and population size is a significant multiplier.

Of course, consumption patterns matter, too. A child born in the U.S. will have a carbon footprint roughly 20 times larger than a child born in Bangladesh. But even if we all adopted sustainable lifestyles tomorrow, the sheer momentum of population growth would still strain the planet. This isn’t about blaming individuals; it’s about recognizing systems. Historically, population control efforts have been coercive, unethical, and often disastrous. The infamous one-child policy in China, for example, led to forced sterilizations, gender imbalances, and human rights abuses. That’s not what we’re talking about. The key word here is “reward,” not “punish.” Instead of authoritarian mandates, imagine a society where small families are celebrated, supported, and incentivized—not because people are forced to, but because it makes sense.

Consider Sweden’s generous parental leave policies, which ironically have the opposite effect—they encourage higher birth rates by making parenthood more economically viable. Now flip that logic: what if we offered similar benefits for those who choose to have fewer children? Financial incentives, tax breaks, free education, housing credits—the possibilities are endless when the goal is to make the sustainable choice also the easy one.

The environmental benefits are clear, but there’s a personal dimension, too. Studies consistently show that smaller families experience less financial stress, more opportunities for parental involvement, and greater flexibility in pursuing education and careers. David Attenborough, the famed naturalist, once said, “All our environmental problems become easier to solve with fewer people, and harder—and ultimately impossible—to solve with ever more people.”

Psychologically, choosing to have fewer children can also reflect a shift in values—from legacy through lineage to legacy through impact. In her book The Baby Matrix, Laura Carroll argues that pronatalist culture—the assumption that everyone should want kids—limits both personal freedom and societal resilience. By normalizing the choice not to have children, or to have just one, we expand the range of what a fulfilling life can look like.

Culturally, small family norms are already emerging in many parts of the world. Japan’s population is declining, not because of government mandates, but because people are making different life choices. Economic pressures, changing gender roles, and shifting social expectations have led many young Japanese to delay or forgo parenthood entirely. While this presents challenges, it also opens opportunities to rethink what growth means beyond GDP and birth rates.

Critics might argue that declining populations lead to economic stagnation, labor shortages, and the dreaded “aging society.” But what if that’s not a crisis, but a transition? Economist Serge Latouche, in his work on degrowth, suggests that we need to decouple prosperity from perpetual expansion. A smaller, more stable population could mean less strain on housing, healthcare, and natural resources—creating space for innovation, creativity, and well-being that isn’t tethered to growth curves.

And there is the ethical dimension. Philosopher Peter Singer, in The Life You Can Save, points out that reducing future human suffering is a moral imperative. Encouraging smaller families isn’t just about resource management; it’s about ensuring that the children who are born inherit a world where their basic needs—and their dreams—can be met.

There’s also the question of gender equality. When societies empower women with education, career opportunities, and access to reproductive healthcare, birth rates naturally decline without coercion. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), countries with strong gender equality tend to have lower fertility rates and healthier, more stable societies. This underscores the importance of ensuring that family planning is not framed as an environmental issue alone but as part of a broader commitment to human rights and social justice.

Finally, the issue of urbanization further highlights why sustainable population policies matter. As more people migrate to cities, infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Overcrowded schools, traffic congestion, housing shortages, and strained healthcare systems are symptoms of urban sprawl driven by population growth. Cities designed around stable, smaller populations can prioritize green spaces, efficient public transportation, and affordable housing, creating healthier and more livable environments for all.
Population balance isn’t just about protecting the planet—it’s about improving quality of life.

Therefore, under Folklaw:

Couples who choose to have one child—or none—shall receive substantial social and economic incentives, including tax benefits, free higher education for their child, priority access to affordable housing, and extended parental leave. Public campaigns will celebrate diverse family structures, dismantling cultural norms that equate parenthood with personal fulfillment.

Educational curricula will include comprehensive information on population dynamics, environmental sustainability, and reproductive choices. Healthcare systems will provide free access to contraception and family planning services. Policies will be designed to support voluntary, informed decisions, with a strict prohibition against coercive measures of any kind.

Additionally, international cooperation will promote sustainable population strategies, recognizing that demographic challenges are global in scope and require collaborative solutions.