News from Population Matters.
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Millions of women have no say over what happens to their bodies
Almost half of women in 57 low- to middle-income countries have no decision-making power regarding their health, contraceptive use and sex lives, according to a new UN report. A shocking…
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Study: preference for small families is ‘contagious’
As highly social creatures, much of what we say and do is influenced by the people close to us. A new paper examines this effect on family size and consumption behaviour…
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Population growth and environmental destruction fuel deadly diseases
Our growing population and resulting overexploitation of nature are facilitating the emergence and spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. Population Matters’ Communications Officer, Olivia Nater, investigates how relentless deforestation, habitat encroachment, wildlife trade, consumption…
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UN report: World still largely hostile to girls
Despite some progress over the past 25 years, girls under age 18 around the world continue to face unacceptable discrimination and violence driven by deeply entrenched gender inequality, according to…
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Family planning services still falling behind population growth
According to a new study, the number of women of reproductive age who wish to avoid pregnancy but who are not using any modern form of birth control is currently…
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The ‘blue acceleration’: ocean plunder in the Anthropocene
A new study highlights the rapidly increasing pressure on the world’s oceans as a result of human population growth and burgeoning demand for resources. The paper, published in One Earth,…
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Which European countries spend the most on global family planning?
A new report shows that Europe spent a total of 845 million Euros on global sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and family planning in 2018 – an overall increase of…
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Wildlife habitat crumbling under weight of human footprint
A new study shows that the majority land-dwelling vertebrate species are now under intense human pressure due to population growth and land use change. The study, published in Global Ecology and Conservation, examines the human…
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Chris Packham: we need to talk about population
In a powerful BBC documentary broadcast this week, Population Matters patron Chris Packham examined the challenges of population growth, and made an impassioned plea for “the elephant in the room”…
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Here’s why 2020 could be a ‘super-year’ for nature
Despite the climate and biodiversity crises continuing to escalate, environmentalists are calling 2020 a ‘super-year’ for nature because of several upcoming international policy meetings that have the potential to set nature…