I agree with you regarding this, of course, the government has a role in this--the problem of overpopulation and its effects. However, we should not be just focusing there, we cannot deny the fact that the people are also responsible. While the government lacks the support it should be giving to the people, the people are just being too reliant on the government. Both parties have responsibilities to take in order for the problem of overpopulation to be dealt with. No matter how many public schools that provide free education and job fares there are, if the people refuse to make a move then it will be all for nothing. The support should indeed come from the government, as that is the responsibility they have for the people they are governing, but the action of change should also come from the people themselves because if they do not choose to help themselves and continue with their lifestyle of producing kids without knowing what they will do in order to provide the needs of these kids in the future and just hold on to what the government should be doing, nothing will change.
You are right that both government and society have an important role in both of these matters. I think that every place has environmental conditions that are different from other places, so the impact of overpopulation will be different from one place to another. If a place has a good government system, it will certainly be able to provide jobs for the people so that they get a decent income and can meet their needs, but if the government system is not good then they don't think about the impact of overpopulation on the environment.
I really agree with you that the government must provide support to its people in terms of improving the welfare of the people they lead, and the people must be more independent if the government does not care about the impact of excess population on their environment.
It's true that different places have different ecosystems. You mention the government's part in shaping things, and you're right: it's a big deal. They have the potential to make a significant impact if they are capable of doing so. Things like making sure people have work and an adequate standard of living. It's straightforward: a great government system can balance population and environment, making sure both are in harmony. A horrible system though, guy. In a word, it's anarchy. The environment and the people in it take the hit. I agree that action needs to be taken by the government. And the people? They can't sit around and do nothing. The people must take control if the government is dozing off. Do what they can for their environment, right? Every bit counts.