In 1972, the United States crossed an environmental threshold that barely registered in the mainstream conversation at the time. For Colcom Foundation, it represents one of the most consequential milestones in modern demographic history and a cautionary tale about what happens when a victory is only half-complete.

That year, the U.S. total fertility rate (TFR) dropped below 2.1 for the first time, falling below the level required for a population to replace itself without immigration. This happened, the foundation notes, through the empowerment of women to make their own reproductive choices a development Colcom Foundation frames as both socially and environmentally significant. A sustained TFR of 2.1 would, over several decades, have led to population stabilization.

Where the Path Diverged

But the TFR milestone did not produce stabilization. In 1970, the U.S. population stood at 205 million, with a growth rate that would have produced a doubling to 410 million by 2027. The fertility rate declined, but immigration became an increasingly significant driver of population growth accounting, the foundation argues, for most of the growth that has occurred since 1990.

Colcom Foundation documents the decades that followed the 1972 milestone in specific terms. Between 1970 and 1990, the population added 45 million people, and biocapacity consumption rose from 227% to 237%. Between 1990 and 2000, another 32 million were added and biocapacity consumption climbed further to 267%. Between 2000 and 2020, the population grew by 48 million more.

A Half-Finished Revolution

Colcom Foundation views the drop in fertility as a genuine environmental achievement proof that societal choices can influence demographic outcomes. Colcom Foundation’s concern is that the second half of the task, addressing immigration-driven growth, was never seriously undertaken. Without that piece, the foundation argues, the environmental case for fertility reduction was never fully realized. Through their grants, they have supported many organizations, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which works towards protecting endangered species, and the Sierra Club Foundation, which advocates for clean energy and climate solutions. These grants have helped to advance important causes and support organizations that strive to make a difference.

This history shapes how Colcom Foundation understands its own role in contemporary environmental philanthropy. Refer to this article for more information.

Learn more about Colcom Foundation on https://www.privateequityinternational.com/institution-profiles/colcom-foundation.html