The Silent Crisis of Declining Fertility Rates: Why Saving the Planet Isn’t Enough Without People to Inhabit It

In recent decades, the global community has mobilised substantial resources to combat climate change, recognising its existential threat to our planet. However, a parallel crisis is unfolding with far less fanfare: the dramatic decline in global fertility rates. This trend poses profound implications for the future of humanity, yet it remains under-addressed in public discourse and policy initiatives.

The Decline in Fertility Rates

Over the past 70 years, the global total fertility rate (TFR) has more than halved, dropping from approximately 5 children per woman in 1950 to 2.2 in 2021. Notably, over half of all countries and territories (110 out of 204) now report fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman. In nations like South Korea and Serbia, the rate has fallen below 1.1—raising concerns about the future sustainability of their populations.

The Surge in Climate Change Mitigation Efforts

In contrast, efforts to mitigate climate change have seen a significant increase in funding and global attention. Average annual climate finance flows nearly doubled from 2019/2020 to 2021/2022, reaching almost USD 1.3 trillion. These funds are primarily directed at renewable energy projects, emission reduction strategies, and sustainable infrastructure. While essential, this focus on environmental sustainability is overshadowing another critical issue: ensuring the sustainability of human populations.

A Disparity in Focus

The urgency to address climate change is well-founded, but the declining fertility rates present a crisis of comparable magnitude. An ageing population resulting from sustained low fertility can lead to economic stagnation, increased healthcare burdens, and a shrinking workforce—threatening the very systems that allow societies to thrive. Despite these risks, fertility remains a low priority on the global agenda, with expensive IVF treatments often framed as the only solution. But this narrative needs to shift.

Solutions to the Fertility Crisis

1️⃣ Improve Socio-Economic Conditions:

Many people are delaying or forgoing parenthood due to financial insecurity, skyrocketing housing costs, and high taxes. In the UK, for example, many young couples feel unable to afford children due to low quality of life and financial pressures. Addressing income inequality, improving job stability, and providing affordable childcare could make having children during peak fertility years more feasible.

2️⃣ Reduce Toxic Load:

Environmental toxins found in food, water, air, and lifestyle products are quietly damaging fertility worldwide. Heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors can impair hormone function and lower sperm and egg quality. Comprehensive action to regulate these toxins, improve food quality, and enhance public health awareness is critical.

3️⃣ Address Trauma:

Unresolved trauma and chronic stress are major, often overlooked factors affecting fertility. Psychological stress can disrupt hormonal balance and inhibit the body’s ability to conceive. Access to affordable psychotherapy and holistic trauma healing therapies could help many women overcome blocks affecting fertility.

4️⃣ Stop Over-Reliance on IVF:

IVF has been marketed as the “go-to” solution for infertility, but it’s expensive, emotionally taxing, and doesn’t address underlying causes. We need a broader approach that focuses on restoring fertility naturally, through lifestyle changes, nutritional support, and targeted interventions.

5️⃣ Make Healthy Foods Affordable:

Healthy, nutrient-rich foods are often priced out of reach for many families, while fast food remains cheap and accessible. Poor diets can exacerbate fertility issues, as nutrient deficiencies directly impact egg and sperm quality. Governments should invest in making healthy food the affordable option by subsidising whole foods instead of processed, harmful alternatives.

6️⃣ Prioritise Sleep and Stress Management:

Modern lifestyles are built on chronic stress and lack of sleep, both of which have devastating impacts on fertility. Sleep underpins every aspect of bodily function, and without it, reproductive health suffers. Public health campaigns and workplace policies need to promote stress reduction and better work-life balance to create healthier fertility conditions.

The Need for a Balanced Approach

It is imperative to recognise that the future of our planet is intertwined with the future of humanity. While allocating resources to preserve the environment is crucial, we must simultaneously invest in solutions that empower people to have children when they are biologically ready, without the financial and emotional burden that delays parenthood. Without a balanced approach, we risk saving a planet for a shrinking and ageing population, which could undermine the very purpose of our environmental endeavours.

It’s Time to Shift the Narrative

The declining global fertility rates represent a silent crisis that demands immediate attention. As we continue to invest in combating climate change, we must also prioritise initiatives that address the socio-economic, environmental, and emotional barriers preventing family growth. Fertility is not just a personal issue—it’s a societal and global one. By addressing this crisis head-on, we can ensure a sustainable future for both the planet and the generations meant to inhabit it.

I’m calling on those committed to changing the face of humanity and improving global health and wealth—visionaries like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and RFK Jr. This is an urgent call to action.

Without immediate intervention, we risk saving a planet without a thriving human race to live on it. Fertility and family growth are not luxuries—they are fundamental to the future of civilisation. 🌱