The critters have evidently convinced the oligarchy that they MUST reduce the population to 500 million globally:
1. To maintain power and control.
2. To prevent the death of humanity totally and earth becoming a polluted dead zone.
They have the power and money to remove pollution totally from the planet--more than sufficient tech to do that.
They have the power and money to end poverty forever and even run an earth pollution free population of 25 billion or more. But it would be hazardous to their grip on power.
3. “To Serve Man?”
“The critters have evidently convinced the oligarchy that they MUST reduce the population to 500 million globally:”