News | Population Matters

Population news from around the globe

20 October 2022

With the birth of the planet’s 8 billionth person just around the corner (15 November), conversations around population growth are becoming ever harder to ignore. The facts are striking; half of the world’s population is made up of just seven countries, we will likely add another 2.4 billion people over the next 60-70 years before, if the UN projections are correct, human numbers plateau and begin to fall.

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

Nature needs a helping hand

13 October 2022

The Living Planet Report was jointly released today by WWF and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), revealing that on average wildlife populations have dropped 69% since 1970, a stark warning that the planet is in a deep crisis. But where do human population numbers factor into the report? Digital and Communications Manager Ben Stallworthy has been looking into it.

Biodiversity Climate Economics Environment Food & water World population

Human numbers soar, birds plummet

3 October 2022

The fifth edition of BirdLife’s publication, State of the World’s Birds, was released last week. The report details the condition of the world’s bird populations, many of which face extinction threats, how and why their numbers are being squeezed and what can be done to reverse current trends and save species on the brink, along with their habitats.

Biodiversity Climate

Celebrating Those Advancing Women's Rights

28 September 2022

As we reported in June this year, blocking abortion access has a terrible human cost. The overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which prevented states in the USA from banning abortion, now means that millions more women do not have access to essential healthcare.

Families Family planning Women's rights

The core of the problem: consumption

21 September 2022

At Population Matters, we’ve long intended to launch a campaign targeting overconsumption. At the heart of the environmental crisis that threatens all our futures are our excessive demands on the planet. It simply can’t sustain the number of us there are, doing the things we choose to do.

Economics

Fighting floods, patriarchy and child marriage in Pakistan

15 September 2022

An estimated 1,325 people have died in Pakistan’s floods, including 466 children. These are girls and boys whose dreams were cut short by a changing climate and communities who are bearing the brunt of multiple intersecting crises. Erfaan Hussein Babak, human rights activist and director of Pakistani organisation, The Awakening, spoke to Empower to Plan Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, about the situation in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Asia population Climate Development Environment Families Family planning Food & water Women's rights World population

Gender Equality 86 Years Away

8 September 2022

At the current rate of progress full gender equality will be achieved in the year 2108, according to a new UN report released yesterday. Why has so little headway been made in recent years, and what’s required to get back on the right path? Digital and Communications Manager Ben Stallworthy looks at the report’s findings.

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

Rajasthan Rising: the Indian girl-led movement going from strength to strength

2 September 2022

Over the first six months of 2022, Empower to Plan funds helped to grow a collective of 5,000 girls determined to end child marriage in India. The Rajasthan Rising movement has since gone from strength to strength, creating a ripple effect of engaged and empowered leaders defending and promoting girls’ rights in their community.

Development Family planning Women's rights

2022: A BIG YEAR FOR GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY

18 August 2022

2022 is a big year for the natural world - a new international biodiversity agreement will be adopted in December, which is intended to ensure that by 2050 humans are living in harmony with nature. Read more here about how human population growth and empowering population solutions are being dealt with.

Biodiversity Development Family planning Women's rights World population

Population Matters sends “Fake News” award to Elon Musk

15 August 2022

As we have previously reported, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has an increasing preoccupation with population. With his tweets and comments showing no sign of diminishing or becoming more reasonable, PM has published a new report analysing his claims, Which planet is he on? Elon Musk and the population apocalypse. To bring home the message, we have also sent a uniquely-designed Fake News award to Mr Musk, care of Tesla’s HQ.

Africa population Asia population Climate Development Economics Environment Europe Population UK population US population World population

Exploring the links between environment and human well-being

3 August 2022

In June, Population Matters’ Researcher and Policy Adviser Monica Scigliano travelled to Finland to present a paper at the Planetary Futures of Health and Wellbeing conference. In this blog post, she reflects on highlights from the conference, her paper, and Finland as a model of sustainability and well-being.

Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment World population

Earth Overshoot Day - what can we all do?

28 July 2022

Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when humanity has consumed all the renewable resources that the planet can produce over the entire year. Falling on 28 July in 2022, it tells us we are very far from living within the limits of our planet. But solutions are available.

Development Economics Environment Food & water World population

As progress continues to falter, how do the SDGs get back on track?

22 July 2022

The UN’s Sustainable Development Report assesses progress in meeting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

Africa population Asia population Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Europe Population Families Family planning Food & water UK population US population Women's rights World population

THE CLIMATE CRISIS: ETHICAL POPULATION ACTION A KEY SOLUTION

19 July 2022

Project Drawdown, the world-leading study of climate change solutions, has rated family planning and education, resulting in slower population growth, as key to tackling the climate crisis. Read more here.

Climate Family planning Women's rights World population

The work of Na’leb’ak - local change-makers in Guatemala

14 July 2022

Catriona Spaven-Donn reports on how Empower to Plan partner Na'leb'ak is leading the way in sexual and reproductive health and education provision in their Maya Q'eqchi' communities.

Development Economics Environment Families Family planning Food & water Women's rights World population

UN: 2.4bn more people but is end of growth in sight?

11 July 2022

The United Nations has today released its updated projections for global population change up to 2100. It is projecting another 2.4bn people by 2086, but the basic numbers hide a more complicated story. PM’s Monica Scigliano reports on the key data and trends, and looks at some of the implications.

Africa population Asia population Economics Europe Population UK population US population World population

Too fast, too slow, just right? The UN's 2022 population projections

11 July 2022

Published today, the long-awaited United Nations global population projections are causing plenty of debate. PM's Alistair Currie looks behind the numbers to see what the lines on the graph mean for people, planet and our future.

Africa population Asia population Biodiversity Climate Development Economics Environment Europe Population Family planning Food & water UK population US population Women's rights World population

WORLD POPULATION DAY 2022: CHANGE CHAMPIONS

7 July 2022

For the second year running, to mark World Population Day on 11 July, we are giving our Change Champions awards to individuals and organisations across the globe for their progressive, 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. Read more about the winners here.

Climate Environment Families Family planning Women's rights World population

Abortion, nation and population - in the US and beyond

1 July 2022

The end of the constitutional protection of the right to abortion in the US has been praised, as well as condemned, across the world. Population Matters' landmark Welcome to Gilead report detailed how a mix of nationalism, population panic and misogyny is fuelling increasing repression of reproductive freedom in some countries. We take a look here at some recent developments.

Economics Families Family planning US population Women's rights

A terrible human cost: Roe v. Wade overturned

24 June 2022

The US Supreme Court has overturned the Roe v. Wade decision which prevented states banning abortion. Twenty-six are now expected to introduce such bans, which will have terrible consequences for the lives and freedom of countless people in the US.