Population growth is a huge problem, contributing to numerous environmental and health problems across the globe. More people means that the planet's resources are stretched ever thinner, leading to deforestation for farmland, urban overcrowding and the spread of horrible diseases. The way to halt population growth is simple on the surface---have fewer children---but the precise way to achieve that has created a great deal of controversy. Several viable solutions have been proposed, but only time will tell if the people and governments of the world will to commit to them.
Education
Education in family planning---particularly among women---has been linked statistically to reduced population growth. According to studies cited by The Independent in Great Britain, women who complete secondary education programs are likely to focus on the "quality" of their children rather than the "quantity," which translates into having fewer children over the course of a lifetime. Improved primary education also reduces infant mortality, which gives women greater confidence in the survival of their children and reduces their desire to have more. Not only does that translate into reduced population growth, but it also leads to improved quality of life as parents become more aware of the options available to their family.
Birth Control
Birth control remains a controversial solution to the question of population growth. Some religious leaders believe it goes against theological teachings, while others feel that it could lead to increased promiscuity among young people. Nevertheless, studies show that people in the developing world possess a limited knowledge of birth control techniques, which leads to unintended pregnancies and increased population growth. Access to family planning and to condoms and similar forms of birth control allows women to make more informed choices, limiting the number of children they have and easing the strain on global resources.
Government Incentives
A simple and direct means to encourage people to have fewer children is through the use of government incentives: offering tax breaks or similar methods provided families stop growing after having two children. Governments can further encourage the trend by funding education projects and ways to inform the populace about the costs of raising more than a set number of children. Critics frown on such methods, considering it undue intrusion into the lives of individual citizens, but advocates believe that by using the carrot instead of the stick, people will be more inclined to choose to have smaller families.
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