How do population and consumption affect the environment?

Our verdict at a glance

Consuming too much and not sharing resources equally are the major causes of environmental harm, more than population growth. We need to use less and share better to ensure the wellbeing of people and planet.

Is the world overpopulated?

We know that humans are having an enormous impact on Earth’s climate and ecosystems. This can give rise to concerns about how many people our planet can support, with the global population expected to peak at over 10 billion before the end of the century. 

But there's no credible scientific estimate of an optimum population. The Royal Society has previously said that "no reliable scientific estimates of sustainable human population size exist, and that such estimates would be provisional and technology dependent." 

Solving the climate and ecological crisis is less about the number of people and more about how much we consume. Only focusing on population growth is neither the most effective nor the fairest approach to living within our means.

Do we consume too much?

The short answer? Yes. 

Here in the UK and other rich countries, we live in a consumerist society. What we buy and own isn’t just about meeting our needs, it’s also a symbol of status and wealth. Marketing and advertising, as well as celebrity and influencer culture, tap into our desires to shape our sense of identity and drive consumption. Just look at the Stanley Cup craze, where people are buying multiple versions of these, ironically, reusable water bottles to stay on trend.

Of course, we all need to consume to both survive and enjoy life. But a culture of consumerism encourages us to buy more than we need. There are also stark inequalities between those who can afford to consume and those who can’t. Poorer people are left behind, often facing debt and low self-worth as they struggle to keep up.

And consumption levels per person are increasing. Over the past 50 years, consumption of fossil fuels per person has increased by 10%, while meat consumption per person has increased by a whopping 60%. The fossil fuel and agriculture industries are the 2 biggest carbon polluters, so growing consumption is clearly driving much of the harm to our planet. 

Can our planet cope with a growing population?

Yes, if we consume differently. For example, one study has shown that with more sustainable production and consumption, our food system could support over 10 billion people. We need to ditch fossil fuels for renewable energy, eat much less meat and dairy, choose greener modes of transport and much more. If we make these changes, there’ll be far less harm to our planet and far more resources to go around.

The damage to the environment that comes from consuming too much is threatening the freedom and rights of many people across the globe to lead healthy and safe lives. If the 8 billion or more people expected to inhabit the planet by 2050 are to enjoy wellbeing within safe environmental limits, we must reduce our consumption.

How does consumption by richer countries affect poorer ones?

Some of the calls to prioritise action on population growth are tainted with unacceptable racist overtones. They aim to deflect attention from the environmental harm caused by rich, predominately white countries with high consumption. Meanwhile, low-income countries with majority black and brown populations are on the frontlines of this environmental harm, despite consuming the least.

Oxfam research showed that in 2019 the richest 1% of the world’s population were responsible for as much carbon pollution as the 5 billion people who made up the poorest two-thirds of humanity. 

Low-income countries where population growth is concentrated actually have very low consumption levels. The UN says the largest increases in population between 2019 and 2050 will take place in 9 countries, including India, Nigeria, Pakistan and the USA. But all of these countries, except the USA, have very low consumption per person. For example, fossil fuel consumption per person is 20 times greater in the USA than in Pakistan. 

People in low-income countries bear the brunt of environmental destruction and human rights abuses, such as deforestation, land grabbing and forced labour, to provide resources for richer countries. For example, Indigenous communities in Malaysia are facing the destruction of their rainforest home due to logging for UK timber imports. It’s richer countries that are overconsuming at the expense of poorer ones.

How can we consume sustainably?

To consume sustainably, we need to consume less, and much more fairly. 

Consuming less

There are plenty of ways to reduce overconsumption.

• Develop a circular economy. Unlike the traditional linear economy of “make, use and dispose,” a circular economy extends the lifetime of products for as long as possible. This involves creating better, more sustainable products in the first place, and then making them work harder for us, for example by sharing and leasing them, or by reusing, repairing and recycling them. And it’s financially savvy too. The EU could benefit by €1.8 trillion a year if it developed a circular economy (by comparison, its 2022 budget was just €170 billion).
• Choose green alternatives. Governments and companies need to take the most action. But we as individuals can make greener lifestyle choices too, whether that’s switching to a renewable energy supplier, making our diet more plant-based or reducing plastic.
• Reform supply chains. People often don’t know how products have been made, including who or what’s been exploited in the process. And global companies aren’t held to account for the damage they cause. Supply chains need to be made more transparent, and we need a new law that holds businesses liable for harm to people and planet. Check out our campaign to hold UK companies accountable and find out how you can take action.
• Get a grip on advertising and marketing. We need better regulations in place (for example, banning surveillance advertising to under 18s) to prevent the environmental and psychological damage marketing and advertising can cause. By making better use of the power these industries wield, we can also promote values that encourage respect for our environment and each other.
• Rethink identity. These days our sense of identity is often tied to consumption. But there are plenty of other sources of identity that don’t harm the planet. Activities such as sports, arts and crafts, community projects and more can provide a real sense of connection and belonging.

Consuming more fairly

Richer countries like the UK need to take responsibility for our overconsumption, redistributing resources so that they’re shared equally across the globe, for example via the United Nation’s 0.7% aid target which the UK hasn’t met since 2020. 

Alongside sharing resources more fairly, we also need to share power more equally, and ensure human rights for all.

• End gender and racial inequality. Women and girls, as well as people of colour, often have less access to resources such as land, work, education, financial services and green space. They’re also disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate breakdown and other environmental harms. We must invest in ending the inequality faced by billions around the world. 
• Invest in equal education and rights for all. All people should have access to primary and secondary education, the right to a healthy environment, rights to reproductive health, the right to have their voices heard in decision-making, and the right to live freely.  
• Focus on fairness. We must transition to a greener future in a fair way. People who’ve consumed the least resources and contributed the least to the climate and nature emergency shouldn’t have to pay the biggest price. Richer countries need to do the heavy lifting and invest their considerable resources into solving the crisis they’ve caused.