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News

Read our latest news stories and blog posts about population matters around the world.

13 September 2018

Wildlife under threat – UK hedgehog numbers plummet

A recent large-scale hedgehog survey across Britain’s rural areas found an alarmingly low number of animals, bolstering earlier research indicating a steep decline. An iconic animal in the UK, the decline in hedgehog numbers reflects disappearing biodiversity under human pressure.

Biodiversity

7 September 2018

Egypt seeks fewer babies: South Korea wants more

Egypt’s government has announced welcome plans to curb its rapid population growth. Meanwhile, South Korea is adopting policies to increase its birth rate.

Family planning

30 August 2018

China may move to end two-child policy

The Chinese government may be steering away from its two-child policy amid concerns over the economic effects of a shrinking birth rate. These rumours were sparked by a social media post from China’s state-run Procuratorate Daily.

Family planning

17 August 2018

Population growth puts green belts under housing pressure

A new report by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) published earlier this month revealed that under current council policies, 460,000 new homes could be built on ‘green belt’ land in the UK, with 35,000 proposals submitted last year.

Biodiversity

1 August 2018

Why isn’t one Earth enough?

Today is Earth Overshoot Day – the symbolic day in the year when we have exceeded the Earth’s capacity to sustain us.

Biodiversity

23 July 2018

Making our mark on World Population Day

On World Population Day 2018, Population Matters took to the streets of London with a truck-mounted mobile digital display of the “population clock” – global population growth live.

Population

11 July 2018

20,000 scientists ignored – time for action

Last November, 15,000 scientists urged governments to act to avoid what they bluntly called “widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss” identifying population growth as a “primary driver”.

Biodiversity

Environment

10 July 2018

Poll: 74% want to see a UK population strategy

According to a national YouGov poll commissioned by Population Matters, 74% of UK adults believe the government should have a national strategy for addressing population.

Population

25 June 2018

Population and family size – tapping into the zeitgeist?

The past few months have seen an unprecedented level of attention on population and family size in the media. With articles in The Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times, The Guardian, the BBC, and many other outlets, could it be that this long-neglected issue is finally getting the attention it deserves?

Population

13 June 2018

One-in-five UK mammals facing extinction – urgent action now

A recent study has found that one in five mammals in the UK face extinction. Climate change, loss of habitat, use of pesticides and disease were identified as main factors. PM patron Chris Packham has warned that the UK faces “an ecological apocalypse” – but one we can fix.

Biodiversity

1 June 2018

Three million more in 10 years. Is England’s growth sustainable?

The population of England is expected to grow by three million people by 2026, according to the latest release from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The population of every region in England is also projected to increase by mid-2026, with London set to grow fastest.

Population

14 May 2018

Our new patron: a “vegan hippy chick in a race car”

US racing car driver Leilani Münter has become Population Matters’ newest patron. Combining her career driving very fast cars with untiring environmental activism, Leilani is a passionate supporter of the population cause.

Biodiversity

Environment

Women's rights

9 May 2018

Ending child marriage “morally right, economically smart”

A new report examining the impact of child marriage in Ethiopia has highlighted the many devastating impacts it has on individuals and society. More than one-in-three girls are married below the age of 18 in Ethiopia.

Development

Women's rights

28 April 2018

Population growth – Global South leaders speak out

Leaders from the Global South speak out about the implications of population growth. Recent reports have indicated rising concern among politicians, experts, and UN officials in the developing world.

Development

24 April 2018

Big (royal) families are behind the times

The announcement of the pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge last year was greeted with criticism, as well as congratulations. Population Matters offered our own comment in the national media.

Population

9 April 2018

Population “Factfulness” – where Hans Rosling goes wrong

At Population Matters we commend Hans Rosling as a brilliant communicator and a person dedicated to improving the lives of people across the world. In that spirit, we offer the following facts, which run counter to Prof Rosling’s popular but shakily founded position that population isn’t a problem and future population growth will effectively sort itself out.

Development

Family planning

Population

6 April 2018

Sir David Attenborough: “we need to come to our senses”

Sir David Attenborough has urged the public to recognise the impact of the plastic age and population growth on the natural world.

17 March 2018

The gift of plastic – viral video diver talks to PM

British diver Rich Horner captured film of himself swimming through plastic and waste. Long deeply concerned about the environment and population,he contacted PM to let us know he is a supporter and to offer us use of the video to spread the population message.

Biodiversity

Environment

Family planning

Population Matters climate change conferece 2018

5 March 2018

Empowering women and melted ice: PM conference 2018

On Saturday, Population Matters’s 2018 conference, Climate change and Us: more feet, more heat? took place in London. Hundreds of people turned up. Our international panel covered a wide range of topics, including the effects of climate change, its impacts on food supply, the challenges of empowering women and the future paths of population and emissions.

Biodiversity

Environment

Population

22 February 2018

Global Gag Rule – one year on

A year on, the effects of US President Trump's reinstated and expanded Mexico City Policy are starting to be seen. The most vulnerable countries, those for whom family planning saved lives and helped lift people out of poverty, are most affected.

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Wildlife under threat – UK hedgehog numbers plummet

Egypt seeks fewer babies: South Korea wants more

China may move to end two-child policy

Population growth puts green belts under housing pressure

Why isn’t one Earth enough?

Making our mark on World Population Day

20,000 scientists ignored – time for action

Poll: 74% want to see a UK population strategy

Population and family size – tapping into the zeitgeist?

One-in-five UK mammals facing extinction – urgent action now

Three million more in 10 years. Is England’s growth sustainable?

Our new patron: a “vegan hippy chick in a race car”

Ending child marriage “morally right, economically smart”

Population growth – Global South leaders speak out

Big (royal) families are behind the times

Population “Factfulness” – where Hans Rosling goes wrong

Sir David Attenborough: “we need to come to our senses”

The gift of plastic – viral video diver talks to PM

Empowering women and melted ice: PM conference 2018

Global Gag Rule – one year on