News | Population Matters

Fighting floods, patriarchy and child marriage in Pakistan

15 September 2022

An estimated 1,325 people have died in Pakistan’s floods, including 466 children. These are girls and boys whose dreams were cut short by a changing climate and communities who are bearing the brunt of multiple intersecting crises. Erfaan Hussein Babak, human rights activist and director of Pakistani organisation, The Awakening, spoke to Empower to Plan Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, about the situation in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Asia population Climate Development Environment Families Family planning Food & water Women's rights World population

Earth Overshoot Day - what can we all do?

28 July 2022

Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when humanity has consumed all the renewable resources that the planet can produce over the entire year. Falling on 28 July in 2022, it tells us we are very far from living within the limits of our planet. But solutions are available.

Development Economics Environment Food & water World population

As progress continues to falter, how do the SDGs get back on track?

22 July 2022

The UN’s Sustainable Development Report assesses progress in meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

Africa population Asia population Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Europe Population Families Family planning Food & water UK population US population Women's rights World population

The work of Na’leb’ak - local change-makers in Guatemala

14 July 2022

Catriona Spaven-Donn reports on how Empower to Plan partner Na'leb'ak is leading the way in sexual and reproductive health and education provision in their Maya Q'eqchi' communities.

Development Economics Environment Families Family planning Food & water Women's rights World population

Too fast, too slow, just right? The UN's 2022 population projections

11 July 2022

Published today, the long-awaited United Nations global population projections are causing plenty of debate. PM's Alistair Currie looks behind the numbers to see what the lines on the graph mean for people, planet and our future.

Africa population Asia population Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Europe Population Family planning Food & water UK population US population Women's rights World population

UN: Population growth driving drought

18 May 2022

A new UN report foresees a future in which droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population, unless we take action. In 23 countries, population growth will be the primary driver.

Africa population Biodiversity Climate Environment Family planning Food & water

Four key ways in which human and environmental health are linked

7 April 2022

The way we are treating the planet is not just bad for the environment – we are actively undermining our own health and well-being too. This year’s World Health Day draws attention to this crucial fact with the theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’. Communications Manager Olivia Nater looks at four critical planetary health issues.

Biodiversity Climate Environment Food & water World population

Between the bedrock and a hard place: the future of groundwater

22 March 2022

Today is World Water Day, a global observance day to raise awareness of water-related issues and inspire action to preserve this most precious of resources. This year’s theme is ‘Groundwater, making the invisible visible’. Communications Manager Olivia Nater explores the facts around groundwater use and what it means for global water security.

Climate Development Environment Food & water World population

UN report: Food systems “at breaking point”

4 February 2022

A new report by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) warns that our modern agricultural systems are stretched to breaking point, spelling worsening environmental impacts and an increasing threat to food and water security. This is particularly alarming as continued population growth will lead to even higher food demand.

Climate Development Environment Food & water World population

How China's food demand will shape our future

27 January 2022

At close to 1.5 billion people, China is the world’s most populous nation, as well as a major and growing economy, with important environmental implications. A new study shows that without sustainable policy interventions, China’s rapidly increasing food demand, especially for animal products, will lead to significant climate emissions and habitat loss.

Climate Environment Food & water 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

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.

Biodiversity Environment Families Food & water World population

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.

Climate Environment Food & water World population

World Wildlife Day: 5 ways you can help forest species

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.

Biodiversity Climate Development Environment Food & water World population

To save biodiversity, we must transform our food systems

15 February 2021

A major new analysis highlights how current food production and consumption patterns are driving biodiversity loss, and proposes three key actions to turn the tide and create a healthier future: a shift towards more plant-based diets, setting aside more land as protected areas, and adopting more sustainable farming methods.

Biodiversity Climate Environment Food & water World population

Humanity headed towards ‘ghastly future’: Urgent warning from top scientists

14 January 2021

An important new study warns that the world is failing to grasp the gravity of our environmental crises, and that without urgent action on the underlying causes, population and consumption growth, we face catastrophic mass extinction, climate disruption, and human suffering.

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

What COVID-19 has taught us about our relationship with nature

18 December 2020

As 2020 draws to a close, humanity is reflecting on a particularly difficult year. The slow but sure roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination programmes presents a light at the end of the tunnel, yet new pandemics are just around the corner unless we confront our broken relationship with nature. Population Matters Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater, reviews the evidence.

Biodiversity Development Environment Family planning Food & water Women's rights World population

Earth Overshoot Day: Five ways we can move the date

20 August 2020

Every year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when humanity has consumed all the resources that the planet can produce over the entire year. This year it falls on 22 August. Global Footprint Network CEO Laurel Hanscom lays out five steps we must take to shrink humanity's ecological footprint.

Biodiversity Climate Environment Food & water Women's rights World population

Eating the planet: what our diets and population growth mean for the environment

27 July 2020

A new report reveals that global adoption of current food consumption patterns in G20 countries would ruin our chance of meeting climate and sustainability targets, exceeding our food carbon budget by almost three-fold and requiring up to seven Earths to support.