Poverty and population growth

Poorer societies have higher growth rates than wealthier societies
Consistent with the demographic transition theory
They have higher fertility and growth rates, with lower contraceptive use
99% of the next billion people added will be born in poor, less developed regions that are least able to support them
Poverty often results in environmental degradation (e.g. soil degradation, hunting of large mammals)

Affluent societies have enormous resource consumption and waste production
People use resources from other areas, as well as from their own
Individuals’ ecological footprints are huge
The addition of 1 Canadian to the world has as much environmental impact as 6 Chinese, or 12 Indians or Ethiopians, or 40 Somalians.