News | Population Matters

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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From pulpit to politics: the Catholic Church’s influence on reproductive rights

11 January 2022

Last week, Pope Francis accused people who have pets but one or no children of selfishness. Nothing could be further from the truth. PM researcher and policy adviser Monica Scigliano provides some context for the Pope’s remarks by examining the Catholic Church’s damaging positions and actions on sexual and reproductive rights.

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Director's reflections on 2021

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

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.

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How population solutions advance human rights

10 December 2021

When people are able to exercise their basic human rights, they are able to make empowered decisions in their lives and inspire others to do the same. Inclusivity and just participation help dismantle harmful practices, and create better societies and healthier environments. This Human Rights Day, Digital Officer Megan Murison looks at how empowering population solutions are key to meeting development goals, reducing human suffering and solving our biggest environmental problems.

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US abortion rights under threat: what's next?

3 December 2021

On 1 December, the US Supreme Court heard the oral argument in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the country’s most important abortion case in decades. Here's what happened and why it matters.

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Welcome to Gilead: how population fears drive women's rights abuses

30 November 2021

Back in March, we wrote about the disturbing rise in reproductive rights violations committed in the name of boosting population growth. Welcome to Gilead, Population Matters’ latest report, expands on the connections between extreme pronatalism and reproductive rights restrictions through eight case studies: Iran, China, Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, and the US. The report’s author, PM Researcher and Policy Adviser Monica Scigliano, explains.

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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.

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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.

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Talking population at the UN climate conference

16 November 2021

From 5-10 November, Population Matters attended the critical COP26 climate change summit, in Glasgow. Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard reports.

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COP26: Why population matters

5 November 2021

A crucial UN climate conference (COP26) is taking place in Glasgow. One factor unlikely to be on the agenda is human population growth. Whilst the relationship between population and climate change is complex, investing in empowering population solutions is undeniably positive and key to averting disaster. PM Digital and Communications Manager Olivia Nater reviews the evidence.

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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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Unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and death: The impact of the UK aid cuts

22 October 2021

In November 2020, the UK Government announced a reduction in its foreign development aid from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5%. Global family planning was one of the areas worst-affected by the cuts – a new report reveals their true cost to women and girls.

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A Booming Success: Population Matters’ 2021 Conference

15 October 2021

On 8th October, Population Matters hosted Boom or Bust, our first-ever hybrid in-person and online conference. Addressing the intersection of population and economics, with a focus on how societies can flourish with a smaller, more sustainable population, a truly global cast of speakers – beaming in from Taiwan, Spain, Ghana, France, the US, UK, and Kenya – brought a wide variety of fascinating perspectives and areas of expertise. Population Matters' Robin Maynard and Monica Scigliano report.

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Gender equality: Have we made progress?

11 October 2021

A new UN report measures the progress made towards gender equality across all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Due to lack of investment and major setbacks precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall picture is bleak, with many indicators worsening instead of improving.

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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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Safeguarding rights, empowering communities

27 September 2021

As we mark World Contraception Day on September 26th and International Safe Abortion Day on September 28th, grassroots providers of sexual and reproductive health services continue to face unprecedented challenges in ensuring access to contraceptives and comprehensive abortion care for the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. Population Matters’ Empower to Plan Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, explains what we are doing to help.

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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

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.

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