Today, we launch our new strategy – a bold and ambitious vision for the next five years of Population Matters. Designed to drive real change for both people and the planet, it sets out an exciting path forward. Our Chief Executive, Amy Jankiewicz, explains more.

Our five-year strategy marks a turning of the page in the Population Matters story. We believe all populations matter. We are interconnected and all species rely on
each other.

In saying this, we remain true to our fundamental concern. Our species – humanity – is using more resources than the planet and all its inhabitants – all fauna and flora – can sustain.

For humanity to survive and for the planet as we know it to thrive, we must actively and knowingly stabilise, and ultimately lower our number, knowing that, in nature, large mammals are rare.

But people do not live in a bubble. Each of us makes choices about having children in a complex world – and we must face the truth that our choices have an impact on our neighbours, our communities, our countries and the world.

Yet no one is talking about the impact a growing human population is having on the planet.

We know that conversations about the growing human population are challenging and that the reasons for that growth are many, varied and complicated.

Our task, therefore, set out in this strategy, is to start those conversations and to amplify them.

We will work at the intersection of both the causes and the effects of population growth, where our evidence tells us we can have the most positive effect at the greatest speed.

Those causes include poverty, insufficient female leadership and support for female rights – including access to education – a male-dominated culture and an insatiable drive for global economic growth, which creates demand that far outstrips the earth’s resources.

The effect of a rising human population includes the destruction of the planet through deforestation, pollution and the accelerating extinction of animals and many other species on which the health of the planet depends. The level of destruction is such that it now threatens humanity.

Already we also see increasing conflict over dwindling resources, exacerbated by climate change-induced famine, leading to people migrating from less to more developed countries. In saying this, we affirm we are pro-choice; that is, firmly behind the right of all women to choose the size of their family. We want to empower women and men with the knowledge and resources they need to make those choices freely and with confidence.

For women, especially, to be able to have control over their bodies and their destinies will also mean a complete education and access to equal opportunities and fundamental rights throughout their lives.

This should become the norm as more women take more leadership roles in government, commerce and the Third Sector, and we will collaborate with others to make this a reality as soon as possible.

Not only is it vital we start to talk about these issues openly and clearly but also that we act. As a small organisation, we know this will be a challenge.

Therefore, we will be bold. We will collaborate with other NGOs, politicians and communities in the global North and South, so that conversations everywhere stimulate action as swiftly as possible.

Read the full strategy here.

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Amy Jankiewicz, Chief Executive, Population Matters