[SustainableTompkins] TheEnergy-PopulationCouple

[Tyler Jay Goepfert]

A comment in response to Karl North's listing of "dubious assumptions," 
I wish to agree.  One additional point (perhaps already discussed) is - 
yes our over-consumption of energy is a fundamental problem, but coupled 
with this is our massive population which came to exist because of cheap 
energy and will only continue with large energy demand.  In short, I 
wonder, isn't it as much of an overpopulation problem as pollution and 
energy issue?

If so, are people working on how an economy or society can remain 
stabile if population is shrinking?  I ask because it seems that our 
typical measure of success is growth (financial and otherwise), but if 
this measure is coming into question what might the outcome be (besides 
a financial recession/depression?).  Sorry to be a dark cloud, just 
curious what if any constructive predictions or advice exist to guide us 
if/when we turn down the anti-growth road.

-Tyler Jay Goepfert
http://www.whoi.edu/people/tgoepfert
Cornell University, Engineering '03
Biological & Environmental Engineering