Oh indeed yes. I certainly wouldn't point a finger at any specific population region, that's a very complex issue.
The basic principle however would be that with half (to pluck a number for example) the population across the world the problem would be much smaller and much easier to address. Unfortunately little if any emphasis seems to be put on overall population, it seems to be a PC minefield where no-one wants to go. China of course did it, but that was condemned broadly across the west, and even they have since relaxed the rules somewhat. No western politician dares broach that subject.
If you increase the population by 25% and reduce the average CO2 footprint by 25% (or 20% if you want to argue the maths backwards) you essentially don't solve anything, the world still sees the same net effect. If you freeze the population (i.e. one person one child) then you can reduce the CO2 effect with the technical actions you are taking.
The first challenge to tackle most problems is for the participants to accept the issue exists, former USA presidents for example.
You are absolutely correct in your analysis.
Another problem with population control is that you finish up with an aging population which is the issue that China has.
The world can only sustain a certain population. In history migrations occurred from either resource depletion (famine) or exploitation ( farming moving into Europe) or resource excess (wood to build ships and then coal to mine in the case of Great Britain).
Unfortunately the world's excess population is consuming resource to depletion with nowhere for the world's population to migrate to.
Coupled with that is the falsification of economic growth.
More population = more economic growth but not per capita economic growth.
As an example, UK economic growth since 2007 ( the great age of multiculturalism) has come from population growth through migration. The 2021 census figures might shock a few people with the potential of a 10% increase in population over ten years. No wonder we need more houses. However since 2007 (13 years) UK per capita income has been all but level.
