ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the scientific community cannot use models and methodologies for understanding the dynamic relationship between population and environment, but needs a new framework. It discusses that the population-environment debate has become deadlocked because it has become a question of taking sides instead of delving deeply into the complexity of the issues. Population, for example, cannot be limited to population size, density, rate of increase, age distribution and sex ratios, but must also include access to resources, livelihoods, social dimensions of gender, and structures of power. While most of the theorizing around the population-environment issue has been directed toward population growth, other demographic processes such as migration and urbanization must be clearly incorporated. The gradual decline in human mortality since the end of the last century must be considered one of the greatest achievements of Western civilization, both on scientific and on human management grounds.
