News | Population Matters

Four out of five women live in countries rated ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ for gender equality

1 October 2019

A major new report on the state of gender equality in 129 countries reveals that women and girls continue to be discriminated against across the globe, with four out of five women living in the lowest scoring countries.

Development Women's rights

UN Climate Action Summit fails to deliver climate action

Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough at UN Climate Action Summit

24 September 2019

The UN’s Climate Action Summit in New York City wrapped up yesterday, leaving many environmentalists feeling deeply disappointed. Despite pressure from youth activists led by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, a record-breaking attendance at last Friday’s global Climate Strike, and a call to action from Sir David Attenborough, world leaders yet again failed to make meaningful commitments.

Climate Environment World population

Wildlife conservation is incompatible with human population growth

20 September 2019

A major analysis found that while wildlife can benefit from sustainable development and economic growth, continued human population growth is incompatible with conservation goals.

Biodiversity Development Environment World population

The World and the UN Must Reduce Population Growth

12 September 2019

The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals imply that there is no longer any need to reduce global population growth, even though it is a serious problem that undermines most of the SDG targets. By adding a further SDG aimed at slowing the increase in population, the world could yet save the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

Development World population

The most powerful action to save the planet is the most neglected one

3 September 2019

As well as being morally essential, achieving global gender equality would make an unparalleled contribution to improving lives, reducing emissions and halting the destruction of nature. So why does women's empowerment remain a chronically underfunded and overlooked solution?

Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

UK population bigger and greyer

23 August 2019

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, show that the UK's population is 66.4 million people, and that the proportion of people past retirement age continues to grow. Do these changes in the UK matter?

Economics Environment UK population

US loses ‘football field’ worth of nature every 30 seconds

7 August 2019

A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) reveals that more than 24 million acres of nature have been lost from the contiguous United States between 2001 and 2017 due to human development; the equivalent of one football field every 30 seconds.

Biodiversity Environment US population

A limit on royal babies? Prince Harry thinks small families are best, public agrees

1 August 2019

Prince Harry’s recent comments on choosing a small family for the sake of the planet caused a welcome swell in media coverage of population issues. According to a survey, the majority of Brits agree with the Duke of Sussex that it is necessary to limit one’s family size for the environment, while newly released data on UK births confirms an ongoing trend towards smaller families.

Environment Families Family planning World population UK population

Despite economic growth, billions won’t have enough fruit and veg by 2050

24 July 2019

A new Lancet study analysing the gap between future fruit and vegetable supply and recommended consumption levels found that even under the most optimistic socioeconomic growth scenarios, there won’t be enough to go around by mid-century.

Development Economics Environment Food & water World population

Going global on World Population Day

17 July 2019

This World Population Day, 11 July 2019, Population Matters went global by running events in three continents. Thanks to our supporters and allies, we had a very successful day in Lagos, Nigeria, London, UK and New York, USA, raising awareness of population issues and pushing them up the international agenda.

Biodiversity Environment Family planning Women's rights World population

Sustainable development needs sustainable population

9 July 2019

On World Population Day 2019, Population Matters is bringing that critical message to London, New York and Lagos

Biodiversity Development Environment Family planning World population

Human population density main driver of nature loss in Africa

4 July 2019

A new study reveals that rapid human population growth is the biggest driver of environmental degradation in African countries, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in family planning as a pathway to achieving biodiversity and sustainable development targets.

Africa population Biodiversity Development Economics Environment Family planning Women's rights

Mission Earth, not Mars

28 June 2019

Population Matters Director Robin Maynard challenges Elon Musk's claim that we should be worried about population decline, not too many people.

Environment Families World population

Condoms cut carbon - Population Matters at the Mass Climate Lobby

27 June 2019

Decked in giant condom robes, Population Matters and supporters attended the mass lobby for climate and the environment in London yesterday, highlighting the urgent need for smaller families.

Climate Environment Families Family planning UK population Women's rights World population

No water, no life: Population growth and climate change are fuelling the water crisis

21 June 2019

From India to sub-Saharan Africa to Britain, local water shortages are turning into a global water crisis due to population pressure and climate change.

Climate Development Environment Food & water World population

UN report: Small change in family size, big change in future population

13 June 2019

According to new UN data, the world’s population is projected to grow by more than 3 billion people by the end of the century, increasing from the current 7.7 bn to 10.9 bn. As in previous years, the data show that small changes in family size translate into a difference of several billion people by the end of the century – just half a child less per couple would see our population peak well before 2100.

Development Economics Environment Women's rights World population

Trump’s Global Gag Rule is killing people

7 June 2019

A new report reveals the extent of the damage caused by President Trump’s global family planning funding cuts. Vulnerable women and girls around the world are being deprived of vital reproductive healthcare, with devastating consequences.

Development Family planning Women's rights

Are we getting through?

29 May 2019

The profile of population and family size is continuing to grow in the media. That discussion is normalising the choice to have few or no children for environmental reasons, and it's something policymakers can no longer ignore.

Environment World population Women's rights

Small families around the world share their thoughts

15 May 2019

We asked people why they chose to have small families and were overwhelmed by the hundreds of testimonials we received from around the world. Both parents and child-free people shared their views on small family life and how concern about the environment often played a key role in their decisions about how many children to have.

Environment Families Family planning World population

One million species face extinction unless we address population growth

10 May 2019

A major new UN report on the state of the world’s biodiversity states that nature is being destroyed faster than ever before due to population and economic growth. Three-quarters of all land environments and two-thirds of all marine environments have been severely damaged by humans over the past five decades, leading to one million species now threatened with extinction.

Biodiversity Environment World population