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Making our mark on World Population Day

23 July 2018

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. 

Environment UK population World population

20,000 scientists ignored – time for action

11 July 2018

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 World population

Poll: 74% want to see a UK population strategy

10 July 2018

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.

World population UK population

Population and family size – tapping into the zeitgeist?

25 June 2018

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?

Environment Families World population

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

13 June 2018

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 Environment UK population

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

1 June 2018

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.

Environment UK population World population

Plastic pollution – viral video diver talks to PM

17 May 2018

British diver Rich Horner captured film of himself swimming through plastic pollution. 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. 

Environment World population

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

14 May 2018

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 World population

Ending child marriage “morally right, economically smart”

9 May 2018

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

Population growth – Global South leaders speak out

28 April 2018

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 World population

Big (royal) families are behind the times

24 April 2018

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.

Families UK population World population

Population “Factfulness” – where Hans Rosling goes wrong

Hans Rosling
9 April 2018

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 Environment World population

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

6 April 2018

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

Empowering women and melted ice: PM conference 2018

Population Matters climate change conferece 2018
5 March 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.

Climate Environment UK population Women's rights World population

Global Gag Rule – one year on

22 February 2018

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.

Family planning Women's rights

UK Sustainable Population Policy needed now – not in 25 years

23 January 2018

Population Matters director Robin Maynard has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, to urge him to address population pressures on the UK environment.

Environment UK population

A hidden agenda? What population campaigners really want

16 January 2018

'Witches’ brew of eugenics, colonialism, coercion, hypocrisy, scientific fallacy and blaming the poor.'  the Sunday Times criticisms echo those which population concern campaigners face almost every day.

Environment World population

Imams support family planning in Senegal

9 January 2018

Public health officials and NGOs in Senegal turn to mosques to expand the provision of family planning, The Christian Science Monitor reports. A key first step, results indicate.

Africa population Families Family planning Women's rights

“Time is running out”: 15,000 scientists demand action

14 November 2017

15,000 scientists signed onto a letter warning that the Earth faces environmental disaster unless action is taken. The latest warning reports that “time is running out”.

Environment World population

A century of growth: latest UK population projections

27 October 2017

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today released its projections for population in the UK over the next 100 years. They show a slowdown in anticipated population growth in comparison to the previous projections (issued in 2015) – but nevertheless, anticipate a population of nearly 73m by 2041.

UK population

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