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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Population Matters’ annual conference in London this past Saturday left attendees feeling enlightened and inspired. This year’s theme was the crucial link between population growth and the sixth mass extinction. With an incredibly knowledgeable international panel of speakers from diverse backgrounds, it was a fantastic event that highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues and the urgent need for the conservation community to address this.

A new study reveals that rapid human population growth along the edge of the iconic Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is forcing wildlife to retreat to its core areas and endangering its ability to sustain life.