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Report: Ageing populations are good

18 October 2018

A new opinion paper published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution argues that societies should embrace ageing populations instead of fearing them.

Economics Environment World population

IPCC report: we need net zero by 2050

8 October 2018

Disappointingly, the report does not call for action on population but acknowledges that high population growth is a “key impediment” to reaching climate targets.

Climate Environment World population

Sir David Attenborough: we must act on population

5 October 2018

Population Matters patron Sir David Attenborough was interviewed on the BBC’s Newsnight, where he once again spoke out about our unsustainable population growth and the urgent need to address it.

Environment UK population World population

Ten thousand walk for Britain’s disappearing wildlife

24 September 2018

Last Saturday, Population Matters joined ten thousand people from across the UK who flocked to London for a ground-breaking event: the biggest march for wildlife the country has ever seen.

Biodiversity Environment World population UK population

Tanzanian president: “birth control is for the lazy”

18 September 2018

President Magufuli was speaking at a rally when he called on people to ignore advice on using birth control as it was coming from “foreigners with sinister motives”.

Africa population Development Family planning Women's rights

Wildlife under threat – UK hedgehog numbers plummet

13 September 2018

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 Environment UK population

Egypt seeks fewer babies: South Korea wants more

7 September 2018

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

Africa population Asia population Family planning

China may move to end two-child policy

30 August 2018

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.

Asia population Family planning

Population growth puts green belts under housing pressure

17 August 2018

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 Environment UK population

Why isn’t one Earth enough?

1 August 2018

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

Environment World population

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

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