The lecture, "The Last Endangered Species: Population Dynamics on a Finite Planet," discussed the Malthusian theory, first proposed by Thomas Malthus in 1798, which argues that starvation is inevitable because population grows exponentially, but resources grow linearly.
While the global population is currently increasing, it will eventually plateau, Park said, because the earth can only support a limited number of people. Competition over insufficient resources will eventually result in wars and starvation, he said, leading to large numbers of deaths and eventual population stabilization.
"Balance in nature is misery," Park said. "You eventually have to do something to keep population from growing. All the things that could flatten the curve out are things you wouldn't want."
While Malthus, writing in the 18th century, argued that abstinence was the only way to control population growth, Park argued that giving women tools to control fertility is currently the only option, citing the book "Limits of Growth" by Dennis Meadows, which calls for increased use of birth control pills to reduce population growth.
"The pill may be the most important technological discovery of our time," Park said. "It may save the world from the predictions of Malthus."
The birth control pill is a highly effective, cheap method of contraception that can be distributed widely to decrease fertility rates, Park said, but many countries oppose the use of the pill for political or ideological reasons. They do not realize that it is in their best interest to distribute it, he said.
Park displayed two maps to demonstrate the difficulties of distributing birth control in less developed countries, and of convincing the population to use it. One of the maps showed global fertility rates, and the other showed global religions. The areas that have the most conservative religious views, namely Muslim countries in the Middle East and northern and central Africa, also have the highest fertility rates. When women in these countries are given more freedom, Park said, overpopulation will decrease.
"We have to have complete freedom for women," Park said. "They have to have the same rights as everyone else, and access to the pill."
Developed countries do not have the same fertility problems as less developed countries, Park said, because women in developed countries have more rights and better access to contraceptives.
"This is the great economic paradox," Park said. "The countries that can least support their population have the most rapid growth."
Disastrous overpopulation is already prevalent in some parts of the world, Park said. He cited Paul Erhlich's book "The Population Bomb," which argues that "nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate [in the 1970s and 1980s]."
"[Ehrlich's] prediction came true, but we never felt it," Park said. "The less developed countries suffered from this Malthusian catastrophe."
The so-called Green Revolution, a series of technological breakthroughs that allowed less developed countries to produce more high-yielding crops, has decreased starvation, Park said. He warned, though, that this increase in resources will not be sufficient unless fertility rates decrease.
Park discussed several indicators of global overpopulation, including garbage build-up on beaches, declining fresh water levels and global warming.
