News | Population Matters

The BBC on population: Re-treading a well-worn path

18 January 2022

Human population dynamics, impacts and challenges are rarely raised or discussed in any depth on mainstream media. So the fact that the BBC gave over one of its flagship Radio 4 ‘Rethink’ series to population should be welcomed by anyone interested in better understanding this crucial, but overlooked, issue. Unfortunately, the programme had some major shortcomings. PM Director Robin Maynard and Researcher Monica Scigliano explain.

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Director's reflections on 2021

21 December 2021

As 2021 draws to a close, Population Matters Director Robin Maynard reflects on an eventful year.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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Gender equality: Have we made progress?

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.

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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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Heading towards collapse: two major warnings

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

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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New global plan to save species must tackle population

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.

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Indian policy risks return to the dark ages of population ‘control’

19 July 2021

On World Population Day, 11 July, the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh released a worrying new draft population policy that would include incentives for sterilisation and punishment for couples who have more than two children, echoing aspects of India’s unethical population control history.

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World Population Day: Celebrating Change Champions

14 July 2021

To mark World Population Day 2021 on 11 July, Population Matters gave awards to individuals and organisations across the globe for their effective and brave work promoting reproductive rights, defending the environment, and enlightening the public about the challenges we face and the solutions that are available.

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Field report: changing minds and lives in Uganda's fishing communities

28 June 2021

At the end of last year, we launched our Empower to Plan campaign with Family Medical Point to ensure that every woman and young person in their community in Uganda has free and safe access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. With your help, we raised £5,000, helping it to reach hundreds of young people. Moses Odongo, Team Leader at Family Medical Point, reflects on the impact of the programme.

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Conspiracy chaos: coronavirus, Bill Gates, the UN and population

24 May 2021

Over the past year, a growing proportion of Population Matters’ website traffic has been driven by rather odd search terms. A quick Google search uncovers a frighteningly extensive network of misinformation. Population Matters' Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater, separates the myths from the facts.

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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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Child marriage in the US: where is the outrage?

29 April 2021

Girls as young as ten are legally getting married in the United States - nearly 300,000 since 2000, according to a new report by Unchained At Last. With no protective federal law in place, over 20 states allow for child marriage at 16 years, and 10 have no age limit whatsoever. Population Matters Outreach Coordinator Florence Blondel uncovers an ugly and little-known truth.

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Why protecting child health means ending population growth

7 April 2021

On World Health Day, paediatrics expert Peter Le Souëf explains why unsustainable population growth hurts children the most and calls for placing current and future child welfare at the centre of the need to combat overpopulation.

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Women’s rights key to slowing population growth - A message to world leaders

8 March 2021

On International Women’s Day, Dr. Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi, Senior Advocacy Advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, explains why empowering women and girls is key to accelerating sustainable development in her country, Pakistan, and globally, and calls on world leaders to invest in the advancement of women's rights.