News | Population Matters

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.

Biodiversity Environment Europe Population Food & water

The Sahel: Empowering women key to averting disaster

27 August 2021

The Sahel region of Africa is on a dangerous trajectory of rapid population growth and catastrophic climate warming. Empowering women in this area is key to saving and improving countless lives. We spoke to Alisha Graves, Population Matters Expert Advisor and Founder and Executive Director of OASIS, which delivers crucial work to advance education and choice for women and girls in the Sahel.

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"Code red for humanity": UN climate report

17 August 2021

A major UN climate report was published last week, providing a dire warning about the worsening climate crisis. With the UN Secretary-General calling it a “code red for humanity”, the report highlights the undeniable human impact upon our planet and shows we must drastically cut emissions within the next few decades to have a chance of averting catastrophic warming.

Climate Environment World population

Heading towards collapse: two major warnings

6 August 2021

Updates to two landmark environmental studies were published in recent weeks: one examines the accuracy of the Club of Rome’s predictions in their bestselling 1972 book ‘Limits to Growth’, the other is a reiteration of the 2019 ‘Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency’. Needless to say, neither update offers good news – we must act fast to avert disaster.

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Earth Overshoot Day: No Plan(et) B

29 July 2021

Today is Earth Overshoot Day, the date on which humanity has used up all the natural resources the Earth can regenerate within a year. Despite urgent calls to avoid a return to our destructive pre-pandemic status quo, we are still hurtling in the wrong direction. It is high time for those in power to confront the uncomfortable truth, explains Population Matters' Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater.

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Happy birthday, but more to do before we blow out the candles

24 July 2021

We’ve been committed to raising the profile of population and our collective impact on Earth since 24 July 1991, and though a cynic might consider it counter-intuitive for us to celebrate, that cynic would be ignorant of our unerring dedication to help create a better world for people everywhere, and the positive difference we are making. Robin Maynard reflects on Population Matters' work on our 30th birthday.

Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

New global plan to save species must tackle population

22 July 2021

Last week, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity published the first draft of its new plan to combat global biodiversity loss. Population Matters Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard examines whether population issues are sufficiently dealt with.

Biodiversity Development Environment Women's rights World population

Indian policy risks return to the dark ages of population ‘control’

19 July 2021

On World Population Day, 11 July, the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh released a worrying new draft population policy that would include incentives for sterilisation and punishment for couples who have more than two children, echoing aspects of India’s unethical population control history.

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World Population Day: Celebrating Change Champions

14 July 2021

To mark World Population Day 2021 on 11 July, Population Matters gave awards to individuals and organisations across the globe for their effective and brave work promoting reproductive rights, defending the environment, and enlightening the public about the challenges we face and the solutions that are available.

Development Environment Families Family planning Women's rights World population

UK parliament committee backs family planning and tackling consumption to protect biodiversity

30 June 2021

An influential committee in the UK Parliament has called on the Government to do more to address population and overconsumption as drivers of biodiversity loss. Its comments, in a highly critical report on the UK Government’s action so far, reflect and refer directly to evidence submitted by Population Matters to its enquiry.

Biodiversity Environment Family planning

Field report: changing minds and lives in Uganda's fishing communities

28 June 2021

At the end of last year, we launched our Empower to Plan campaign with Family Medical Point to ensure that every woman and young person in their community in Uganda has free and safe access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. With your help, we raised £5,000, helping it to reach hundreds of young people. Moses Odongo, Team Leader at Family Medical Point, reflects on the impact of the programme.

Africa population Development Family planning Women's rights

Why vegans should promote smaller families

21 June 2021

Ever more people are adopting plant-based diets for the planet, which leads many to believe that our consumption of animal products must be decreasing. Sadly, the opposite is true, with demand for meat and dairy continuing to shoot upwards due to a rapidly expanding middle class. Medical doctor and environmental filmmaker Sofia Pineda Ochoa explains why all vegans should also care about our unsustainable population growth.

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Choice Matters: Our new manifesto

16 June 2021

Choice matters, in more than one way. That is why we've launched a new Choice Manifesto allowing people from across the world to commit to celebrating small families and helping to empower others to have the same freedoms.

Environment Families Family planning Women's rights World population

Bill Ryerson: We can bring birth rates down fast

11 June 2021

Is it really easier and quicker to reduce fertility rates than greenhous gas emissions, and what role does entertainment media play in achieving a sustainable population? Our Outreach Coordinator Florence Blondel interviews Bill Ryerson, Founder and President of the Population Media Center and Population Matters Expert Advisor.

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Why we must seize this chance for change

4 June 2021

If we’ve learnt anything from the devastating impact of COVID-19, it’s that life will never be quite the same again, which, according to conservationists Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, opens up a whole world of opportunity – if we’re brave enough to stand up for change. Here, they share their thoughts on what needs to be done, right here, right now...

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China's changing child policy: what does it mean?

1 June 2021

China's panic over the consequences of a falling birth rate is typical of growing concerns across the world. Its response - moving its family size limit from one to two to three children - is typical of the Chinese government in mixing apparent liberalisation with intrusive state control. Our Head of Campaigns, Alistair Currie, looks at the policy and the drivers behind it, and asks what it can it tell us about shifting demographics and how governments respond.

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The sixth mass extinction and the future of humanity

27 May 2021

Everyone is aware of the climate crisis but not many people know there is another, equally serious environmental crisis: the sixth mass extinction. Renowned ecologist and conservationist Dr Gerardo Ceballos explains this alarmingly rapid erosion of biodiversity and why the survival of our own species depends on whether we manage to halt it.

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Conspiracy chaos: coronavirus, Bill Gates, the UN and population

24 May 2021

Over the past year, a growing proportion of Population Matters’ website traffic has been driven by rather odd search terms. A quick Google search uncovers a frighteningly extensive network of misinformation. Population Matters' Senior Communications Officer, Olivia Nater, separates the myths from the facts.

Development Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

Will environment groups break their silence on population?

21 May 2021

High-profile Population Matters supporters including Chris Packham, Gordon Buchanan and Prof William Ripple are among those who have signed a letter to major environmental groups calling on them to take action on population.

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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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