India, Nov. 29 -- Eight billion people. Almost three times as many as in 1960. And still we are told the real crisis is that there aren't enough of us.

In 1960, there were about 3 billion human beings on Earth. Today, there are around 8.2 billion, and projections suggest we may touch 10 billion by 2050. India alone now holds nearly 18 percent of the world's population. When a human being is added to the planet, it is not merely another body that occupies a few square feet. What is added is a lifetime of consumption: food, water, energy, metals, plastics, transport, housing, electronic devices. Overpopulation is not about how many people can stand on a piece of land. It is about how many lifestyles the Earth can afford to support.

Yes, f...