The policy that dare not speak its name .....

.... appears yet again in one of the Sunday's.

This from yesterday's Observer, an article about Chris Rapley, the new head of the science museum, who argues that a reduction in the planet's birthrate is the easiest method of minimising the impacts of climate change.

"What I am saying is that if we invest in ways to reduce the birthrate - by improving contraception, education and healthcare - we will stop the world's population reaching its current estimated limit of between eight and 10 billion. That in turn will mean less carbon dioxide is being pumped into the atmosphere because there will be fewer people to drive cars and use electricity."

His views concur with the recent report from the Optimum Population Trust, which called for each couple in Britain to be limited to having two children each.

I wonder how long before one of the main political parties starts to dare to contemplate policies such as this? It couldn't happen, could it?

And interesting to note that there is an estimated theoretical limit for the planet's population, which is 8 to 10 billion. What do we number now - somewhere in excess of 6 billion?