News | Population Matters

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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Three-in-ten young people want a small family for environmental reasons

14 May 2021

In the run up to International Day of Families on 15 May, a new opinion poll by Population Matters has found that almost three-in-ten people between 18 and 24 years old say concerns about the environment have made them want to have fewer or no children. Almost a third say concerns about the environmental effects of having children make them want to have fewer or none. Despite the clear benefits of smaller families, both parents of only children and childfree women reported that they feel negatively judged for their choices.

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Scotland's not-so-sustainable population policy

31 March 2021

Scotland has just published its first ever national population strategy. Population Matters Director Robin Maynard takes a look and laments the disconnect between the country's many other progressive policy positions and its conventional pro-growth approach.

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Population must play a role in the climate conversation

14 November 2020

How does population growth affect climate change? For this week's London Climate Action Week, PM Board Member and Director of Flight Free UK, Anna Hughes, reflects on her decision not to have children to reduce her carbon footprint.

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UK report: Next generation will inherit worse environment

6 November 2020

A new report shows the UK Government is way off course to meet its goal of improving the state of the environment for the next generation, with many areas continuing to deteriorate, including biodiversity, water pollution, and soil depletion.

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Relationships & Sex Education: Teach Everyone Every Aspect

14 September 2020

The theme of this year's UK Sexual Health Week is relationships and sex education. In this guest blog post, Dr. Rebecca Foljambe, founder of RSE charity and Empower to Plan partner You Before Two, reflects on a discussion with some of her young students.

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Small island, big population – why the UK needs a Sustainable Population Policy

6 August 2020

With the United Kingdom already considered one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, unabated population growth poses a real threat to remaining ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. Population Matters Director Robin Maynard takes a look at a UK politician’s new proposal to set up a governmental body tasked with monitoring national population trends and developing policy recommendations.

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Can relationships & sex education help save the planet?

16 June 2020

On the UK's Relationships and Sex Education Day, Population Matters Campaigner Katrina Dixon lays out why quality sex education is key to protecting lives and the environment.

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Small families help slow UK population growth

7 May 2020

New UK population estimates reveal a continued reduction in the growth rate, largely driven by fewer births as a result of people choosing to have smaller families.

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UN report: World still largely hostile to girls

5 March 2020

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 a new report.

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2019 Year in Review

Robin Maynard and Lagos media, World Population Day 2019

23 December 2019

PM director Robin Maynard reviews a successful year for Population Matters, but one which brought much bad news about the planet.

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Big Baby calls for small families to cut CO2

Big Baby climate change event Parliament quare

3 December 2019

With the critical COP25 climate change meeting opening in Madrid, Population Matters' 7m-high Big Baby brought a critical message to Westminster on Friday: cutting population growth through choosing smaller families is vital to fight climate change.

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70 is the new 65: a new way of looking at population ageing

19 November 2019

A new analysis by the UK Office for National Statistics shows that estimating the number of life years remaining, rather than counting the years lived, could be a better way of measuring ageing and its implications for society.

Economics UK population

Organic agriculture could increase climate emissions without changes in population and diet

25 October 2019

A new study shows that converting all farmland in England and Wales to organic agriculture could increase greenhouse gas emissions because meeting the food demands of the UK population would require using more land abroad.

Climate Environment Food & water UK population

UK biodiversity report: more of us, less of them

4 October 2019

The latest edition of the most authoritative report on biodiversity in the UK has just been released - State of Nature 2019. The 2016 version described the UK as "one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world". This new edition makes clear there has been no improvement - and shows some of the impacts of human population growth.

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UK population bigger and greyer

23 August 2019

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, show that the UK's population is 66.4 million people, and that the proportion of people past retirement age continues to grow. Do these changes in the UK matter?

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A limit on royal babies? Prince Harry thinks small families are best, public agrees

1 August 2019

Prince Harry’s recent comments on choosing a small family for the sake of the planet caused a welcome swell in media coverage of population issues. According to a survey, the majority of Brits agree with the Duke of Sussex that it is necessary to limit one’s family size for the environment, while newly released data on UK births confirms an ongoing trend towards smaller families.

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Condoms cut carbon - Population Matters at the Mass Climate Lobby

27 June 2019

Decked in giant condom robes, Population Matters and supporters attended the mass lobby for climate and the environment in London yesterday, highlighting the urgent need for smaller families.

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UK nature under assault: failed biodiversity targets and water stress

27 March 2019

The United Kingdom is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, yet the onslaught on our natural environment is showing no signs of slowing. Two key new reports demonstrate that UK wildlife and freshwater sources face a dire future unless urgent action is taken to protect them.

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