The high prices of scarce resources stimulate the search for better or cheaper alternatives for meeting the same human wants. The critical factor is the scope of the human imagination. The fear of population growth seems to be driven by the notion that eventually there will be too many people for the planet to support. Such a fear is exaggerated. Besides, as the mortality rates have fallen in the industrialized portions of the globe, so too have the birth rates A larger population could offer significant advantages.
More people means more minds.
Having more minds working on human problems improves the chances of finding solutions. There is more opportunity for specialization and the depth of expertise that specialization brings. The dramatic acceleration in science and technology in our high population era is evidence for the potential advantages of a growing population. On balance, the environment is getting better. Consider, the internal combustion engine is frequently singled out as a prime culprit in the pollution of the environment.