Unfortunately, we only have one world L.H., and that pie isn't getting any bigger.
In fact, if everyone now on the planet were to enjoy the standard of living of typical Americans, we would need the resources of 5 planets.
Doesn't leave a lot of room for growth, now does it?

That's fine for private economics, but for public assets, transport consumption, infrastructure, space, size of cities and pressure on roads, a day in Sydney speaks for itself (and I'm sure those from many other cities could relate similar experiences).

The polls referred to are wrong about population. The people polled were not informed about the real state of world ocean food sustainability To consider population growth it is vital to understand whatever national and world population can be adequately fed.

People without food already riot. Civil unrest and war these days can lead to and wipe out entire nations.

Ignorance of the ocean environment and devastation of world land and sea natural food resources on this planet, does not provide for informed poll data.

Lack of data is hindering debate and solutions.

Water is not the only resource problem. In reality, water is a secondary problem compared to biology and sustainability of affordable and available staple protein food

Grim, and others here, don't appear to understand what actually generates wealth.

This goes to the core of 'capitalism' - capital. There is the natural state of things but it is capital that is able to generate exponential amounts of value in addition to what nature has provided for us. A river provides water and fish. The powerpower that uses the currents to generate electricity is capital - it is able to provide utility above and beyond nature's endowment.

For as long as humanity has existed, innovation has driven growth. Where there is a demand for something, someone - a entreprenuer, a scientist or, god forbid, even a politician - will provide because it is in their interests to. This Malthusian approach to the world completely neglects the immense power of human innovation.

The big problem is that whilst there is no end of speculation about the benefits of population growth, there is no evidence that we are better off because of it. And in order for a population to be utilised, you need a supporting infrastructure. With a massive population growth rate currently, infrastructure costs are sending governments deeply into the red.

Unless infrastructure can keep up with population growth, living standards cannot be maintained. Infrastructure is not keeping up. So it isn't so much a matter of Malthusian pessimism as it is one of understanding that the infrastructure which underpins Australia's civilisation is a real cost which is not being met for the current rate of population growth.

With very little respect at all LH, you are confusing Capital with Credit.
The real Capital is the -strictly finite- resources of this planet. Innovation does not create Capital; even innovation which allows us to use our resources more efficiently does not create Capital. Innovation merely moves wealth from the have nots to the haves.
Take for instance Bill Gates. He did not 'create wealth'. He created an operating system which he sold to the rest of the world. Every owner of a PC takes money out of their own pockets, and puts it into Gates's pocket.
And the world's debt burden rises.
Accountants distinguish between 'good' and 'bad' debt. 'Good' debt, we are told, is buying an appreciating asset (say real estate, or real Capital), whereas 'bad' debt is buying a depreciating asset (say a car or a TV).
You shouldn't have to be a genius to see 'bad' debts are those we have to pay for ourselves, whereas so called 'good' debts are those which we leave for our children to pay ( in the form of hugely inflated prices); which is precisely why I said the author just wants to put off having to pay a higher percentage of pensioners, until he is a pensioner.
Just open your eyes and look around, and tell me your children's futures look brighter than yours did.
Capital isn't growing it's shrinking, but our children's debts are certainly and undeniably growing.