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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.

Climate Environment Women's rights World population

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

Mountains at night
21 December 2021

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

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Elon Musk is wrong: we need smaller families

Elon Musk
13 December 2021

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has just been named TIME’s person of the year, has once again urged people to have more babies, claiming that “population collapse” is the biggest threat facing humanity. Population Matters Communications Manager Olivia Nater explains why this statement is absurd and dangerous.

Biodiversity Economics Environment Families Family planning 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

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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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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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.

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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.

Development Environment Families Family planning Women's rights World population

UK parliament committee backs family planning and tackling consumption to protect biodiversity

30 June 2021

An influential committee in the UK Parliament has called on the Government to do more to address population and overconsumption as drivers of biodiversity loss. Its comments, in a highly critical report on the UK Government’s action so far, reflect and refer directly to evidence submitted by Population Matters to its enquiry.

Biodiversity Environment Family planning

Why vegans should promote smaller families

21 June 2021

Ever more people are adopting plant-based diets for the planet, which leads many to believe that our consumption of animal products must be decreasing. Sadly, the opposite is true, with demand for meat and dairy continuing to shoot upwards due to a rapidly expanding middle class. Medical doctor and environmental filmmaker Sofia Pineda Ochoa explains why all vegans should also care about our unsustainable population growth.

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