RECOGNITION OF OVERPOPULATION AS A GLOBAL PROBLEM

The growing human population was seen as a threat by Alexander Carr-Saunders (1886–1966) in his book The Population Problem published in 1922. It inspired his Oxford friend and colleague Julian Huxley (1887–1975), for whom the analysis of populations was to influence his later work and thought. Even in the 1930s, Huxley was lecturing on the importance of family planning and birth control, given what he then recognised as the dangers of overpopulation. In 1931 he wrote the final section on the Breeding of Mankind for the Science of Life, by H.G. Wells, J.S. Huxley and G.P Wells: a large volume far ahead of its time in advocating birth control. In it he set out the argument that projected overcrowding from growth rates then calculated at 1% per annum.

From 1946 to 1948 Huxley was the first Director General of UNESCO, and in his new role travelled the world, realising for himself the extent of the growing problem of global overpopulation. In 1949 the UN planned a conference on World Resources, and invited Huxley's continued involvement.