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Welcome to Gilead: how population fears drive women's rights abuses

30 November 2021

Back in March, we wrote about the disturbing rise in reproductive rights violations committed in the name of boosting population growth. Welcome to Gilead, Population Matters’ latest report, expands on the connections between extreme pronatalism and reproductive rights restrictions through eight case studies: Iran, China, Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, and the US. The report’s author, PM Researcher and Policy Adviser Monica Scigliano, explains.

Economics Europe Population Families Family planning US population Women's rights World population

Bill Rees: A note on climate change and cultural denial

24 November 2021

Was COP26 a big waste of time? Population Matters Expert Advisor Prof William Rees weighs in on the major UN climate conference and points out humanity's collective failure to acknowledge and address the root cause of environmental problems: we are consuming more than the Earth can provide.

Climate Environment World population

Reflections on COP26

19 November 2021

The crucial UN climate summit in Glasgow, COP26, finished on Saturday 13 November. How much did it achieve and how did it deal with the population issue and neglected, positive solutions? Population Matters Director Robin Maynard reflects.

Climate Environment World population

Talking population at the UN climate conference

COP26
16 November 2021

From 5-10 November, Population Matters attended the critical COP26 climate change summit, in Glasgow. Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard reports.

Climate Family planning Women's rights World population

COP26: Why population matters

5 November 2021

A crucial UN climate conference (COP26) is taking place in Glasgow. One factor unlikely to be on the agenda is human population growth. Whilst the relationship between population and climate change is complex, investing in empowering population solutions is undeniably positive and key to averting disaster. PM Digital and Communications Manager Olivia Nater reviews the evidence.

Africa population Climate Development Women's rights World population

From flood protection to family planning: Komb Green Solutions

26 October 2021

In July, we launched our crowdfunding campaign with the Kenyan environmental group Komb Green Solutions. After disastrous floods earlier this year, the park they had created for children and youth was almost washed away. Their efforts to empower women, girls and crime-involved youth were in jeopardy but thanks to generous Population Matters members and supporters, we were able to lend a hand. Empower To Plan Coordinator Catriona Spaven-Donn provides an update on their achievements.

Africa population Development Environment Family planning

Unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and death: The impact of the UK aid cuts

22 October 2021

In November 2020, the UK Government announced a reduction in its foreign development aid from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5%. Global family planning was one of the areas worst-affected by the cuts – a new report reveals their true cost to women and girls.

Development Family planning Women's rights World population

A Booming Success: Population Matters’ 2021 Conference

15 October 2021

On 8th October, Population Matters hosted Boom or Bust, our first-ever hybrid in-person and online conference. Addressing the intersection of population and economics, with a focus on how societies can flourish with a smaller, more sustainable population, a truly global cast of speakers – beaming in from Taiwan, Spain, Ghana, France, the US, UK, and Kenya – brought a wide variety of fascinating perspectives and areas of expertise. Population Matters' Robin Maynard and Monica Scigliano report.

Climate Development Economics Women's rights World population

Gender equality: Have we made progress?

Sierra Leone woman with baby
11 October 2021

A new UN report measures the progress made towards gender equality across all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Due to lack of investment and major setbacks precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall picture is bleak, with many indicators worsening instead of improving.

Development Women's rights

PM report exposes the ageing myth

8 October 2021

A major new report by Population Matters busts the myth that a declining birth rate and ageing population spell economic disaster. Silver linings, not silver burdens reveals the benefits of fewer people being born, and identifies the common-sense policies that will meet the challenges of a society in which more people are older.

Economics Environment Europe Population UK population US population World population

Safeguarding rights, empowering communities

27 September 2021

As we mark World Contraception Day on September 26th and International Safe Abortion Day on September 28th, grassroots providers of sexual and reproductive health services continue to face unprecedented challenges in ensuring access to contraceptives and comprehensive abortion care for the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. Population Matters’ Empower to Plan Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, explains what we are doing to help.

Family planning Women's rights World population

Talking population at the World Conservation Congress

21 September 2021

From 3-10 September, Population Matters attended the World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Marseille. Postponed from last year due to COVID-19, the Congress brought together a range of stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, scientists, business, representatives of indigenous people and the public, to discuss the state of nature and how it can be protected. Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard reports how PM made its presence felt.

Biodiversity Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

More than half of all tree species could face extinction

Trees
14 September 2021

A comprehensive new assessment of the conservation status of all trees reveals that 30-60% of species are at risk of extinction, mainly due to habitat destruction for agriculture.

Africa population Biodiversity Environment World population

Europe's biodiversity under pressure from growing food demand

8 September 2021

A recent study shows the continued conversion of land to agriculture to feed growing populations in Europe will have devastating impacts on key species including wild bees, plants and earthworms. While this damage can be reduced by selecting less biodiverse areas and incorporating sustainable farming practices, limiting additional population growth is the only long-term solution for feeding everyone without destroying ever more nature.

Biodiversity Environment Europe Population Food & water

The Sahel: Empowering women key to averting disaster

27 August 2021

The Sahel region of Africa is on a dangerous trajectory of rapid population growth and catastrophic climate warming. Empowering women in this area is key to saving and improving countless lives. We spoke to Alisha Graves, Population Matters Expert Advisor and Founder and Executive Director of OASIS, which delivers crucial work to advance education and choice for women and girls in the Sahel.

Africa population Climate Development Environment Family planning Food & water Women's rights

"Code red for humanity": UN climate report

17 August 2021

A major UN climate report was published last week, providing a dire warning about the worsening climate crisis. With the UN Secretary-General calling it a “code red for humanity”, the report highlights the undeniable human impact upon our planet and shows we must drastically cut emissions within the next few decades to have a chance of averting catastrophic warming.

Climate Environment World population

Heading towards collapse: two major warnings

Burnt forest
6 August 2021

Updates to two landmark environmental studies were published in recent weeks: one examines the accuracy of the Club of Rome’s predictions in their bestselling 1972 book ‘Limits to Growth’, the other is a reiteration of the 2019 ‘Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency’. Needless to say, neither update offers good news – we must act fast to avert disaster.

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Earth Overshoot Day: No Plan(et) B

29 July 2021

Today is Earth Overshoot Day, the date on which humanity has used up all the natural resources the Earth can regenerate within a year. Despite urgent calls to avoid a return to our destructive pre-pandemic status quo, we are still hurtling in the wrong direction. It is high time for those in power to confront the uncomfortable truth, explains Population Matters' Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater.

Biodiversity Climate Development Environment Women's rights World population

Happy birthday, but more to do before we blow out the candles

30th birthday balloon
24 July 2021

We’ve been committed to raising the profile of population and our collective impact on Earth since 24 July 1991, and though a cynic might consider it counter-intuitive for us to celebrate, that cynic would be ignorant of our unerring dedication to help create a better world for people everywhere, and the positive difference we are making. Robin Maynard reflects on Population Matters' work on our 30th birthday. 

Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

New global plan to save species must tackle population

Kudu
22 July 2021

Last week, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity published the first draft of its new plan to combat global biodiversity loss. Population Matters Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard examines whether population issues are sufficiently dealt with.

Biodiversity Development Environment Women's rights World population

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