LTE: Efforts to curb unbridled growth that's killing the planet

Editor:

Many of the myriad threats to our fragile environment were outlined in your article on the downsides of economic growth, but it missed the big one-population growth ("Efforts to curb unbridled growth that's killing the planet," Jan 4). Endeavors to protect the environment through reduced consumption and increased efficiency are frequently overwhelmed by continuing growth in human numbers.

As an example, per capita energy consumption in the United States was 13 percent lower in 2011 than it was in 1978. However, because of rapid population growth, total energy consumption increased by 22 percent over the same period.

Ric Oberlink
CAPS Senior Writing Fellow
Berkeley, CA