News from Population Matters.
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Population and consumption causing extinction crisis and water shortage
The latest Global Resources Outlook report by the United Nations Environment Programme shows that humanity is now using three times as many natural resources as during the 1970’s, resulting in species loss and water shortage. The report found that the countries with by far the greatest impact are those that combine a large population with a…
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Gender equality boosts teen contraceptive use
A new study published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health shows that a country’s progress towards gender equity is reflected in greater use of contraceptives among its adolescents. Previous research has shown the same trend among adults, but this study is the first to examine the link in teenagers. Many developed countries, including parts of…
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Study: we’re eating large animals to extinction
A study published this month in Conservation Letters found that three out of five of the world’s large wild animals are threatened with extinction, mainly due to direct harvesting by humans for consumption of meat or body parts. Intentional and accidental killing The authors analysed how human activities are impacting the conservation status of 362…
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Global risks: where does population rank?
An online survey of over 10,000 adults across nine countries found that more than two thirds of respondents consider population growth a “global catastrophic risk”. However, less than a quarter believe the issue requires urgent action and just over half believe continued population growth will have “negative effects”, down from 64% in 2017. One in two people wrongly…
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Global insect collapse threatens all life on Earth
Recently documented insect population crashes in Puerto Rico and Germany reflect a worrying global trend that is gaining increasing media coverage for good reason: insects are essential for the healthy function of ecosystems. The named culprits are climate change, habitat destruction and pesticides use, all of which are driven and amplified by our growing numbers. While…
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US and China’s population growth at new low
The population of the United States grew by 0.6% between July 2017 and July 2018, which is the lowest recorded annual growth rate since 1937. A similar trend is happening in China, which increased by 0.4% in the past year and is expected to reach zero growth in the next 10 years. The latest US census…
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Making migration safe
On Tuesday, countries from across the world met in Marrakesh to adopt the Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration, whose text was agreed this summer, and published on World Population Day, 11th of July. Our Head of Campaigns and Communications, Alistair Currie, examines its provisions, and asks if it goes far enough. The crisis…
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How to feed the world without destroying it
A new report investigates the enormous challenge of feeding our rapidly growing population without further damaging our environment and worsening climate change. [UPDATE: Since this story was written, another major report on diet and sustainability has been released, in January 2019. The EAT-Lancet Commission’s report called for major changes in global food production and consumption…
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Speaking out on climate change
Population Matters’ Patron, Sir David Attenborough, is spearheading ‘The People’s Seat’ at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Poland this December. In a short video by the UNFCC secretariat, Sir David urges millions to take the seat and act on climate change using the hashtag #TakeYourSeat. Utilising the results of social media posts and polling, the…
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Running to stand still? Meeting family planning targets.
A new report shows that the world is still not on track to meet contraceptive use goals by 2020, largely due to lack of government action and funding shortfalls. Slow progress The number of women who have taken up modern contraception has increased by 46 million since a global family planning initiative was launched in 2012, but…