I think the oft-misattributed Einstein quote applies here. "The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

I prefer "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it in the first place."

But your point stands.

I'd argue that the best thing for the environment would be low population growth and rising productivity. Considering the anti-synergy between fertility and education, these are almost the same thing.

The easiest and laziest way to get economic growth is by growing the population.