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Young voices for the planet: Meet our Choice Ambassadors

Morris
21 January 2022

Meet our Choice Ambassadors! Dedicated to fighting for the planet, these inspiring young people champion empowering solutions to our environmental crises. Outreach Coordinator Florence Blondel introduces the team.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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.

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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. 

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Bill Ryerson: We can bring birth rates down fast

11 June 2021

Is it really easier and quicker to reduce fertility rates than greenhous gas emissions, and what role does entertainment media play in achieving a sustainable population? Our Outreach Coordinator Florence Blondel interviews Bill Ryerson, Founder and President of the Population Media Center and Population Matters Expert Advisor.

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Why we must seize this chance for change

4 June 2021

If we’ve learnt anything from the devastating impact of COVID-19, it’s that life will never be quite the same again, which, according to conservationists Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, opens up a whole world of opportunity – if we’re brave enough to stand up for change. Here, they share their thoughts on what needs to be done, right here, right now...

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The sixth mass extinction and the future of humanity

White rhino
27 May 2021

Everyone is aware of the climate crisis but not many people know there is another, equally serious environmental crisis: the sixth mass extinction. Renowned ecologist and conservationist Dr Gerardo Ceballos explains this alarmingly rapid erosion of biodiversity and why the survival of our own species depends on whether we manage to halt it.

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Will environment groups break their silence on population?

Orangutans
21 May 2021

High-profile Population Matters supporters including Chris Packham, Gordon Buchanan and Prof William Ripple are among those who have signed a letter to major environmental groups calling on them to take action on population.

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Three-in-ten young people want a small family for environmental reasons

Small family
14 May 2021

In the run up to International Day of Families on 15 May, a new opinion poll by Population Matters has found that almost three-in-ten people between 18 and 24 years old say concerns about the environment have made them want to have fewer or no children. Almost a third say concerns about the environmental effects of having children make them want to have fewer or none. Despite the clear benefits of smaller families, both parents of only children and childfree women reported that they feel negatively judged for their choices.

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PM supporters take action on UK aid cuts

5 May 2021

Last week, the UK Government announced it will be cutting its funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by a staggering 85%. Combined with the planned reduction in spending on girls’ education, this will deliver a devastating blow to the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. It also contradicts the Prime Minister’s claim that addressing climate change is the UK’s “foremost international priority”. Population Matters has written to key representatives and launched an e-action campaign, urging a reversal of this terrible move.

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Jonathon Porritt: Still hot on the campaign trail

Jonathon and Stella
22 April 2021

To celebrate Earth Day in Population Matters’ 30th anniversary year, activist Stella Wright from our London group asks our President and veteran campaigner, Jonathon Porritt, some searching questions about the population issue and the future.

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Troubled Waters: Population growth and climate change

22 March 2021

The theme of this year’s UN World Water Day is ‘valuing water’. The impact of the climate crisis and population growth alongside lack of progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6: ‘Water and sanitation for all’ shows we have a long way to go to learn the true value of the world’s most invaluable resource, writes Population Matters Campaigner Katrina Dixon.

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World Wildlife Day: 5 ways you can help forest species

Orangutan mother and baby
3 March 2021

World Wildlife Day, falling on March 3rd every year, is a UN initiative that aims to celebrate wild species and raise awareness of their plight. This year’s theme, ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’, showcases humanity’s dependence on healthy forest ecosystems. Our Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater, examines the critical state of global forests and lists five actions we can take to help protect them and their inhabitants.

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