An answer ...

Ben, nobody links them in the way you see it, because if anything, decreasing birth rates mean that our energy problems will get WORSE, not better, because energy use actually INCREASES as societies become wealthier. And, as you know, decreases in fertility are often associated with significant increases in per-capita wealth.

The industrialized nations of the West use FAR MORE energy per person than the more populous undeveloped nations. As standard of living increases, people start having fewer children but they use a whole lot more energy to feed their habits.

As nations such as Iran, Mexico and India continue to see fertility rates decline, they will see an increase in per capita energy use.


RESPONSE FROM BEN :

With all due respect Mr/Ms/Mrs "A": That is hokum.

The current (somewhat bizzarre) United Nations Population Divisiion (UNPD) go out to 2300. (Too far...)

They show a total world population ranging from about 2 billion to about 36 billion. (Useful, huh?)

Decreases in fertility are not neccessarily linked to greater energy use, or cleaner energy use.
Poor people --- burning "cow chips" for example --- cause lots of pollution.

Moreover, new energy sources can be both clean and efficient. (See my post re "Thorium.")

We have the wallet for that. Do we have the will?

Ben