Facing the future 30 years to save the world - Population Matters
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Issue 38 Spring 2021 | 30th anniversary edition 30 years to save the world Every choice we make and each action we take will have an impact It’s not too late Jonathon Porritt – as much of an activist as he ever was Facing the future Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin on our chance to rebuild a post-pandemic world that’s better for people and planet ISSN 2053-0412 (Print) ISSN 2053-0420 (Online)
CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Contents Chapter 4: Human Impact on the Biosphere
Figure 4.11 The Economy is Embedded in the Biosphere
3 From the Director
About us Robin Maynard looks at how, from a meeting 7
of interested parties three decades ago,
Population Matters is a UK-based charity
Population Matters has grown to become a
working globally to achieve our vision of
humanity co-existing in harmony with nature small but mighty charity that’s taking on
and prospering on a healthy planet. We drive the immense challenges of the future.
positive action through fostering choices
that will help achieve a sustainable human 4 News round-up
population and regenerate our environment. Population news stories, PM poll
We promote positive, practical, ethical results and Endgame 2050.
solutions – encouraging people to choose
smaller families and inspiring people to 6 Going nowhere fast
consume sustainably – to enable everyone to How population growth is holding
enjoy a decent quality of life whilst sustaining
back efforts to tackle climate change.
the natural ecosystems upon which all life
depends. We support human rights, women’s
empowerment and global justice.
7 Can economists
save the planet?
Population Matters is a registered charity in England and The Dasgupta Review challenges the
Wales (1114109) and a company limited by guarantee in
England (3019081) registered address 135-137 Station Road, way economic success is measured and Box 4.8
asks for transformative change. Plus,
10
London, E4 6AG. Population Matters is the working name of Land-Use Change and the Spread of Viruses
the Optimum Population Trust Registered trademark.
news of PM’s 2021 Conference. It is customary to regard trade in goods as ways that smooth local disruptions across space
and time. Globalisation is also applauded because it expands output and has been shown to
Magazine 8 The campaigning generation
have helped to reduce global poverty. But because globalisation has taken place when much
of the biosphere is not merely free for all to use as we like but is also subsidised for our use
Printed in the UK by Jamm Print & PM’s President Jonathon Porritt is put in
(Annex 8.1, Chapter 8), it has increased the likelihood of societal crashes. It has done that b
connecting economic units closely to one another via firms’ supply chains and the movemen
Productions using vegetable-based inks the hotseat by PM activist Stella Wright.
of people. Close connections among its parts make the global economy less modular
(Chapter 2): a crash in one part spreads to other parts.
on 100% recycled paper.
Design, infographics & illustrations: 10 Pullout poster – 30 years
There are further drivers of societal crashes. Our remarkable ability to enter every ecological
niche has raised the chances of pandemics (Daily and Ehrlich, 1996; Jones et al. 2008).
Miller Design to save the world Humans now enter niches occupied by organisms with which we have not evolved. Intimate
associations between humans and wildlife disease reservoirs have raised the risks of exposur
Editor: Anna Harris To commemorate 30 years of Population
to zoonotic viruses. Being unfamiliar pathogens, they are able to spread rapidly across the
globe (Gottdenker et al. 2014). Moreover, biodiversity loss creates niches for pathogens that
Cover image: Tom Gilks/BBC Wildlife Magazine Matters, here are 10 facts, 10 actions
are lying in wait in small numbers to explode in their populations, and for new pathogens
Population Matters Magazine is produced twice a year by and 10 possible outcomes that could to evolve. 154
Population Matters, 135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG see us heading towards 2050 with hope.
13 Want change? Take action!
Registered charity: 1114109 Tel: 020 8123 9116 154
As elsewhere in the Review, we use expressions that could suggest organisms have intention. But as noted previously, such
expressions are used routinely among scientists with no such intention, as for example when they say Nature abhors a vacuum.
For further information, e-versions and back copies log onto
populationmatters.org/members-magazine
Conservationists Chris Packham and
128
Megan McCubbin share their thoughts on
14
The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Re
Stay connected building a positive post-pandemic future.
populationmatters.org 14 One team for the planet
PopulationMatters It’s time for the environmental community to
PopnMatters come together to address our environmental
popnmatters crises, urges PM’s Olivia Nater.
PopulationMatters
15 A sustainable future
t: 020 8123 9116 Dr Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi looks at the
e: enquiries@populationmatters.org opportunities arising from Pakistan’s
ed: magazine.editor@populationmatters.org demographic transition if the potential of
a: 135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG the country’s women and girls is harnessed.
16 Transforming lives 19
An update on some of PM’s Empower to
WORLD Plan projects in Uganda, Kenya and the
UK, funded by our members.
POPULATION 18 Women under pressure
THIS ISSUE:
PM’s Alistair Currie reports on the
toxic mix of governments promoting
7,857,422,900
population growth and restricting
women’s rights.
19 Q&A with Alisha Graves
The newest member of PM’s Expert
WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED READING Advisory Group on the work of OASIS,
THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE RECYCLE IT which is focused on advancing education
BY PASSING IT ON and choice for women and girls in the Sahel.
CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
From the Director
From a meeting in a House of Commons committee room three
decades ago to a charity with global reach, our belief in positive
action continues to drive us forward to face the challenges ahead.
Chaurasia’s research, published in our
Journal of Population and Sustainability,
reveals that ongoing population growth
is overwhelming reductions in carbon
emissions achieved through energy
efficiency. Similarly, as highlighted on
page 14, the shift by millions of people
to plant-based diets and the consequent
eco-benefits are outstripped by increasing
population and consumption.
Despite such contradictions, despite
the science, optimism and the belief in
positive action motivates us and our
supporters, as they did the founders of
the Optimum Population Trust.
HOPE RISING
In this, our 30th Anniversary Today, our researchers Optimism spans the decades, inspiring
issue, I must firstly pay tribute to the far- and consultants are a new generation of campaigners. Our
sightedness of the founders of Optimum President, Jonathon Porritt, sees hope
Population Trust (OPT), now known as working in the UK, rising out of the “intergenerational rage”
Population Matters (PM). Issue number France, Africa, Australia of the third of the world’s population
one of OPT’s magazine, Better World, was under 18 who must contend with
published in January 1993, a little under
and the US. Our Patrons worsening ecological challenges, but
two years after, as that first issue phrased and Expert Advisory whose rage can fuel greater activism.
it, “OPT was conceived, if readers will Group members include Similarly, our Patron Chris Packham
pardon the word, in a committee room laments the “unexceptional leaders”
of the House of Commons on March 21, academics, broadcasters, currently in power for these “exceptional
1991”. The occasion was marked by a conservationists, times”, whose paucity of vision leaves
debate on population. Four months later them blustering about ‘returning to
on 24 July, a little after its first trimester,
scientists and women’s normal’ and ‘getting back to business’,
at a meeting in a London language school, empowerment activists. when it is ‘business as normal’ that has got
with David Willey (who, dedicated to the PM supporters number us and our planet in this present plight.
cause, continued to lead and inspire OPT His stepdaughter, Megan McCubbin,
until his death in 2000), his wife Yvette more than 20,000 directs her ‘intergenerational rage’ at clear
Willey, David Richardson and others in from 120 countries. targets and tactics: “The new generation,
attendance, the Optimum Population when they reach positions of power, the
Trust was born. activists from across the world. PM big change will come then.”
A lot has happened over the past three supporters number more than 20,000 Population Matters continues to build
decades, with Population Matters finally from 120 countries worldwide. on the foresight of our predecessors. Our
achieving charitable status in 2006, There’s consistency and continuity strategy, currently undergoing review, will,
enhancing its ability to increase members too: our overall objective can still be emulating Megan’s energy and optimism,
and finances and transition from being summed up as seeking to achieve a ‘Better be focused on clear targets, extending our
dependent entirely on volunteers to an World’. However, to quote Professor existing global partnerships, promoting
organisation employing full-time staff. Alok Ranjan Chaurasia, 30 years on positive solutions and offering increased
Today, team members, our researchers there’s still, “a conspicuous silence about opportunities for more people, young and
and consultants are actively working for the role of population in the debate old, to be active in our ongoing campaign
PM in the UK, France, Africa, Australia on environmental sustainability”. to build a ‘Better World’.
and the US. Our Patrons and Expert Mainstream environmental groups
Advisory Group members include Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Robin Maynard
internationally recognised academics, the RSPB remain reluctant to promote Director, Population Matters
broadcasters (if one can describe Sir David positive action on population, despite
Attenborough as merely a ‘broadcaster’!), the growing body of science linking
campaigners, conservationists, scientists biodiversity loss and climate change to
and women’s empowerment and rights human population impacts. Professor
populationmatters.org every choice counts 3
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Population Matters news round-up
People want action on extinctions
© Unsplash/Simon Greenwood
As PM Patron Sir David “very concerned” about the loss of
Attenborough’s documentaries animal and plant species, 41% thought
highlight the biodiversity crisis, a PM it should have the same priority as
poll shows two-thirds of people in the tackling climate change and 32%
UK want the same or more priority on thought it should have more.
species loss as on climate change.
Last September, a Leaders’ Pledge for
The poll, taken just after broadcast Nature was announced, prior to the
of Sir David’s powerful Extinction: United Nation’s biodiversity summit,
the facts documentary on BBC One committing to reverse the decline in
found that 91% of respondents were biodiversity by 2030. The pledge was global leaders to do what they say they
concerned about biodiversity loss. signed by the leaders of more than will this time, and that includes truly
And, while climate change and plastic 60 nations. We’ve seen fine words and addressing the most important indirect
pollution are the greatest concerns, promises before and they haven’t been drivers – expanding consumption and
nearly half of those polled were delivered. At PM, we’re pushing for human population.
By numbers
© Unsplash/Hello I’m Nik
It’s now or never
Biodiversity is declining
An important new study warns that the world is failing faster than at any time in
to grasp the gravity of our environmental crises and human history
that without urgent action on the underlying causes –
population and consumption growth – we face a
‘ghastly future’ of catastrophic mass extinction, 70%
The amount that vertebrate
climate disruption, and human suffering.
wildlife populations have shrunk
The paper, published in Frontiers in decades. The damage will be felt for centuries during the last 50 years*
Conservation Science by Corey Bradshaw, and threatens the survival of all species.”
PM Patron Professor Paul Ehrlich and
15 other leading scientists, summarises The report’s authors suggest that the lack 1 million
The number of species estimated
more than 150 major studies on the state of urgency is down to several factors. These
to be threatened with extinction*
of our planet and predicts that future include the failure to connect and relay
environmental conditions will be far planetary crises and solutions identified by
worse than what is generally believed. individual academics (who tend to specialise
50%
***Food system impacts on biodiversity loss – Tim G Benton, Carling Bieg, Helen Harwatt, Roshan Pudasaini and Laura Wellesley
in one particular topic) in a meaningful way
Agriculture occupies half of all
By numbers panel sources: *World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2020, **ourworldindata.org/land-use, pnas.org,
In an article for The Conversation, the to policy makers and the wider audience.
habitable land on Earth and is
authors state: “The problems, all tied to
the main driver of habitat and
human consumption and population growth, Turn to pages 10-11 for details of how we can
biodiversity loss**
will almost certainly worsen over coming all have a positive impact on our future >>
COVID-19 – what lessons have we learnt?
60%
of all mammal species on the
planet are farm animals**
In March 2020, as COVID-19 was revealing its
© Unsplash/Kevin Grieve
deadly impact on the world, PM published a
blog about the link between population growth,
environmental destruction and pandemics. Since 70%
of all bird species on Earth are
then, a major report has been published by the
farmed poultry**
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
1/
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, summarising
how our exponential rise in consumption, trade
3
Our modern food
and population pressure is driving a rapid systems are responsible
increase in the risk of pandemics, with more not shy away from the hard truth in a recent for a third of all
than five new diseases emerging every year. address, but he added: “Human activities are greenhouse gas emissions***
at the root of our descent toward chaos. But
PM Patron Jane Goodall stated in a recent that means human action can help to solve it.” Find out more about changing
interview: “We brought it (COVID-19) on our food consumption
ourselves by our disrespect of nature.” UN A change for the better? Chris Packham and patterns on page 14 >>
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also did Megan McCubbin comment on pages 12-13 >>
4 populationmatters.org every choice counts
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Thumbs up from our members
© Unsplash/Jacqueline Munguia
A big thank you to everyone
who took part in our first
annual survey, released late
last year. We heard from
more than 400 members
from 22 countries and it’s
really encouraging to find
that 90% are ‘very satisfied’
or ‘somewhat satisfied’
with their experience to
date. In addition, 79% feel ‘very connected’ or ‘somewhat
Can we change our ways?
connected’ to the work taking place – with the top two “Humanity has backed itself into an ecological
topics most resonating with members being global endgame as we approach mid-century.”
population growth and that of nature and biodiversity.
What will the future be like in the year 2050? A mere three
In terms of member benefits, the monthly email newsletter
decades away, most of us hope to still be around. So, what
came out on top, with this magazine being a close second!
kind of future are we heading into? ENDGAME 2050 gives
Many of you enjoy our themed talks and Q&A sessions, which
us a glimpse – and it does not look good.
we’re hoping to feature more frequently as part of a growing
In February, PM held a live screening of the population
programme of online events this year. With 94% saying they’re
segment of this important new documentary, which is
likely to renew their membership, it’s great that so many PM
members will continue to support our campaigns. an urgent call to action to tackle the existential crises
bearing down on the planet. This was followed by a
panel discussion with the film-maker Sofia Pineda Ochoa
© Unsplash/Dainis Graveris
– a physician-turned-environmentalist; reproductive
health expert Alisha Graves; and our esteemed Patrons
Professor Paul Ehrlich, renowned ecologist and author
of the seminal Population Bomb, and Leilani Münter,
environmental activist and childfree advocate.
When asked about why film can have a bigger impact
on attitudes and actions than traditional campaigning,
Sofia Pineda Ochoa said: “Our emotional centre has a
very strong say in how we behave. Film can be visceral
– tapping into our instincts and emotions in such a way
Birth control: where are that moves us to change our ways.” This sentiment was
echoed by Professor Ehrlich, who added: “Emotions are
the male options? an incredibly important part of our lives and just telling
people more science doesn’t have as much impact as
Decades of research have led to the development of pills,
telling stories does.”
injections, implants, coils, patches, rings and barriers.
All the panellists agreed that there was a need to talk
However, almost all of these have to be implemented by
more openly about population and that negative reactions
the female partner. Even today, men only have the choice
to women who choose to have smaller families or be
between vasectomy (male sterilisation), and condoms.
childfree should be challenged. Alisha Graves commented:
Increasingly, many men wish to play a more active role in “We need to break the silence around it.” Robin Maynard
family planning. A survey by the US-based Male Contraceptive added: “This documentary promotes the effective
Initiative found that almost four in 10 men are very interested population solutions we advocate for at Population Matters,
in potential new methods for male contraception. And, as particularly the empowerment of women and girls.”
unplanned pregnancies still account for nearly half of all
pregnancies worldwide, increasing the number of options Visit populationmatters.org and search for ‘ENDGAME’ to
available to men could help reduce these. watch the live discussion. Read our Q&A with Alisha Graves
on page 19 >>
Despite a lack of investment, several exciting research projects
are underway, including a gel containing testosterone and a
synthetic analogue of progesterone, developed by the Population
Council. However, without more funding, experts say it’ll take
up to 20 years for new drugs to become publicly available.
Nevertheless, we salute male contraceptive developers for laying
the much-needed groundwork for a more equal society in Sofia Pinedoa Ochoa, Professor Paul Ehrlich, Alisha Graves and
which everyone is empowered to plan their family. Leilani Münter taking part in the live discussion.
populationmatters.org every choice counts 5
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Climate change
© Unsplash/Riccardo Annandale
progress being
cancelled out
Despite increased energy
efficiency, a major new study
finds that population growth
is holding back efforts
to tackle climate change. energy use due to increasing cleaner energy supplies. However,
as people and societies across the world become more affluent,
their average economic activity grows, which pushes up energy
While significant strides have been taken over the last use and carbon emissions.
30 years to improve energy efficiency, which reduces both
the amount of energy needed and the levels of CO2 emitted, INTEGRATING POPULATION IS ESSENTIAL
additional demand, caused partly by population growth, has So, while the link with population is clear, the study’s
meant that these solutions are effectively driving with the author points out that there is a distinct lack of discussion
brakes on. about it, stating: “There is a conspicuous silence about
These are the findings of a substantial new study by Professor the role of population in the debate on environmental
Aalok Ranjan Chaurasia, titled Population effects of increase sustainability. For example, the United Nations 2030 Agenda
in world energy use and CO2 emissions: 1990 - 2019. The for Sustainable Development pays only passing attention
study examines the effects of four factors on total to population related issues and concerns
energy use and CO2 emissions across 44 countries: in the quest to secure environmental
population change, economic growth, energy “There is a sustainability. My analysis highlights the
intensity (the amount of energy use/production need to integrate population as a factor in
needed to achieve a certain amount of economic conspicuous environmental sustainability. Reducing
activity) and carbon intensity (level of emissions silence about the and ultimately achieving zero population
per unit of energy).
role of population growth can contribute significantly towards
environmental sustainability by considerably
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IS A KEY DRIVER in the debate on decelerating the increase in energy use and
The peer-reviewed research has been published environmental CO2 emissions.”
in the Journal of Population and Sustainability, Commenting on the study, PM’s Director,
an editorially independent academic periodical sustainability.” Robin Maynard, said: “There are many drivers
published by Population Matters twice a year. Professor Aalok of climate change and all must be considered.
It finds that globally, the growth in economic Ranjan Chaurasia Addressing population or any of those drivers
activity per person is the main driver of energy alone will not be enough. We need radical
use and CO2 emissions – in each case responsible change across the board, exercising all options
for around twice the contribution of population growth on and available actions in behaviour (especially in the high-
average. And, while economic growth has been far faster consuming Global North), policy and the economic system to
than population growth, this nevertheless demonstrates that achieve the targets set out in the Paris Agreement on climate
population growth has accounted for a third of emissions change. However, this study demonstrates that if population is
during the period analysed. This means that the total amount ignored then progress in other areas will be overwhelmed and
of emissions generated by population growth is equal to even cancelled out. Population has to be central to the debate.”
two-thirds of the emissions saved through improved energy
efficiency measures – essentially knocking back any positive
environmental gains that have been made.
FIND OUT MORE
AFFLUENCE AND ENERGY You can read more about the
Globally, over 29 years from 1990 to 2019, we have reduced relationship between population
energy intensity by more than a third because fewer of the and climate change in our fully
things we do require as much energy as in the past and the referenced Population Matters Climate
energy we use is produced and used more efficiently. We have Change Briefing 2020, available as a PDF at
also reduced the carbon intensity of that energy – we now populationmatters.org/resources
produce a lower level of emissions for the same amount of
6 populationmatters.org every choice counts
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Can economists save the planet?
The environment in which we live can no longer sustain us. It’s time
for a paradigm shift, where success is measured in terms of thriving
economies, not those in perpetual growth, argues PM’s Alistair Currie.
For generations, economists have perceived the natural at more than $6 trillion – in the report’s words: “paying people
world as a source of stuff that can be bought and sold, and a more to exploit Nature than to protect it”.
plughole down which stuff that isn’t needed can be thrown.
Our relationship with nature has been based on the principle HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS
that it will always keep providing what we want and never The review identifies “deep-rooted, widespread institutional
stop absorbing what we don’t. For thousands of years, failure”. It also joins many progressive economists in
that understanding has worked for us. Chapter However,
4: Human Impactas many
on the Biosphere challenging the way in which economic success is measured,
economists are now recognising, that time is over, and that both in crude terms of growth and specifically in Gross
assumption is killing us. Figure 4.11 The Economy is Embedded in the Biosphere Domestic Product (GDP), which measures only economic
output and activity, but doesn’t account for whether
LIVING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN the fundamental “assets” underpinning it –
Among them, Kate Raworth’s (senior including nature – are strong. Because of this,
research associate at Oxford University’s rising GDP conveys a sense of progress,
Environmental Change Institute) even when the thing it depends on, the
principle of ‘doughnut economics’ is one environment in which we live, is being
that has caught the public imagination degraded to the point where it can no
because of its simplicity. Raworth’s longer sustain us. Effectively, future
model illustrates the idea that “a generations are subsidising our present
healthy economy should be designed affluence: we enjoy prosperity because we
to thrive, not grow”. It represents the are taking what belongs to them.
level of economic activity that is needed
for everyone to have a decent standard and TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE The Economi
of Biodivers
cs
ity
The Dasgup :
quality of life as a circle. It then imagines another The review calls for three key changes: Review
ta
concentric circle, which is the level of economic activity Box 4.8 policies which reward protecting nature;
that exceeds what the planet can sustain. In order Land-Use to ensure Changeaand the Spread measuring of Viruses “wealth” in a way that reflects
decent life for everyone, without wrecking the planet, is also we must because it people’s
expands outputwellbeing now to and in the longer
It is customary to regard trade in goods as ways that smooth local disruptions across space
and time. Globalisation applauded and has been shown
live in the ‘doughnut’, the space between thoseistwo circles. Into use as weterm; like but isand
have helped to reduce global poverty. But because globalisation has taken place when much
of the biosphere not merely free for all reducing
also subsidised for our ouruse demands on nature.
a world in which deep poverty and inequality
connecting economic co-exists
units closely withto onean another viaOne waychains
firms’ supply it proposes
(Annex 8.1, Chapter 8), it has increased the likelihood of societal crashes. It has done that by
and the movement to ease that pressure is
environmental crisis driven by unsustainable consumption, it’s steps to reduce and end population growth,
of people. Close connections among its parts make the global economy less modular
(Chapter 2): a crash in one part spreads to other parts.
clear that our economic system is failing There are tofurther
achieve drivers ofthat.
societal crashes. Our remarkable through family
ability to enter everyplanning
ecological and generating new
niche has raised the chances of pandemics (Daily and Ehrlich, 1996; Jones et al. 2008).
Humans now enter niches occupied by organisms with expectations aboutIntimate
which we have not evolved. family size. In recognising
The economy is THE CYCLE viruses.OF
associations between humans and wildlife disease reservoirs have raised the risks of exposure
to zoonotic Being unfamiliar pathogens, theythe need
are able to rapidly
to spread address across the not just consumption behaviour but the
CONSUMPTION
are lying in wait in small numbers to explode in theirnumber offorconsumers,
globe (Gottdenker et al. 2014). Moreover, biodiversity loss creates niches for pathogens that
new pathogens the report shows courage and clear-
a wholly owned In January,
to evolve.
leading
154
populations, and
sightedness. Some economists are calling for still more radical
subsidiary of the economist and Population changes than the Dasgupta report proposes. Many, however,
As elsewhere in the Review, we use expressions that could suggest organisms have intention. But as noted previously, such
154
environment – Matters Patron Sir Partha see no need to change at all. That is no longer an option.
expressions are used routinely among scientists with no such intention, as for example when they say Nature abhors a vacuum.
Dasgupta issued a major
not the reverse.
128 The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review
new report, commissioned
Herman Daly, former by the UK’s Treasury, PM CONFERENCE 2021
World Bank economist, The Economics of
Population Matters Biodiversity, which called The economic implications of reducing
Expert Advisor, 1977 for “transformation” in and ending population growth will be
our economic systems. It the subject of Population Matters’
details how the environmental costs of economic activity are public conference this autumn. An authoritative and diverse
very rarely factored into the financial cost, so that the prices range of speakers will discuss the opportunities for a better
of goods and services don’t reflect their impacts. That makes economic system, and, in the face of increasing scare
them cheaper, fostering a cycle of more consumption and stories about ageing societies, explore how demographic
more environmental damage. changes which help solve our environmental crisis can also
Nor has conventional economics recognised the value of be good for people. For the first time, our conference will be
nature in underpinning it – the example of bees and other available as a live, online participatory event.
insects pollinating commercial crops at no cost, being the To find out more and join us, either online or in London on
most famous. Conservative estimates put the level of the day, visit populationmatters.org/conference-2021
government subsidies internationally which damage nature
populationmatters.org every choice counts 7
CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
STILL HOT ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
© Unsplash/Markus Spiske
On Population Matters’ 30th anniversary,
activist Stella Wright from our London
group asks our President, Jonathon Porritt,
some searching questions...
Stella Wright: You’ve been a Patron to solve with fewer people, and harder
of Population Matters for more than – and ultimately impossible – to solve
10 years, and a long-term campaigner with ever more people.” And, not repugnant, deeply authoritarian
surrounding population issues. Has the surprisingly, I find myself endlessly campaigns to control women’s fertility
subject got any easier to talk about over returning to that figure of 270 million (in both China and India, for example),
the last decade? women of reproductive age who are not and it’s not hard to unearth racist and
Jonathon Porritt: I sometimes find it able to manage their own fertility. Up misogynistic individuals who weave
hard to explain just how different the from 232 million in 1990. population control into their hateful
‘population debate’ today is compared world views. But all this is so far from
to the 1970s and 1980s. The idea of SW: At the London Group, we’re setting the kind of work done today by
talking about the long-term prospects up a youth action group, to encourage population advocacy organisations,
for humankind without putting the younger people to get involved. In your
population question at the heart of experience, do younger generations tend
those inquiries would have been seen to be more understanding and accepting
then as ridiculous. The combined of population issues? We have to go on
impact of humankind on the natural JP: As a young activist in my 20s, back speaking the truth to
world is obviously a function of how
many people there are on the planet,
in the 1970s, population was just
accepted as a critical part of the web of
the environment and
and of how those people live their issues and challenges that had to be development NGOs who
lives. Two sides of the same coin. engaged with. But there was nobody at will still not properly
This changed in the 1990s. that time trying to ‘de-legitimise’ the
Paradoxically, the hugely important debate, let alone call into question the acknowledge that
UN Conference on Population and values and political integrity of those population growth is one
Development in Cairo in 1994,
following on directly from the Earth
who felt particularly strongly about
population and family planning. There’s
of the principal drivers of
Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, far too much of that going on today, and both the climate and the
turned out to be the high point in I think that sometimes discourages ecological emergencies.
addressing unsustainable population young people from getting involved.
growth rather than the solid foundation As I heard rather plaintively from a
on which to build a global consensus young member of the Green Party in a including Population Matters here in
around the pre-eminent importance recent Zoom session: ‘I’m not sure that the UK, of which I am proud to be the
of rights-based, progressive family I want to go stumbling into the President. The emphasis for NGOs
planning. We simply have to rebuild population minefield!’. operating today is on women’s rights,
that foundation. non-coercive family planning, on the
SW: Do you expect population growth to wider benefits of education for girls and
SW: Is there a single quote, or statistic one day be accepted as a widespread of reproductive healthcare, and on
that really seems to hit home for people issue, or do you see it remaining as a ensuring that women can manage their
who are reluctant to accept population controversial topic or even opinion? own fertility, especially in repressive
growth as a threat? JP: I fear it will never be uncontroversial. and male-dominated cultures.
JP: Perhaps unimaginatively, I still And let’s be honest about part of the
find my fellow Patron Sir David reason why that’s so: the backstory of SW: The majority of people would like to
Attenborough’s quote to be the most some population campaigning in the hope that they won’t witness the serious
appropriate and useful: “All our past is deeply regrettable. No-one can environmental effects of a growing
environmental problems become easier deny that there have been some population and consumption in their
8 populationmatters.org every choice counts
CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
lifetime. But how much time do we
really have before it’s too late to make
positive change?
JP: To a certain extent, everybody
involved in the debate about climate
change agrees that it’s already ‘too late’
for some things if not for others: it’s too
late, for instance, to get concentrations
of CO2 in the atmosphere back to the
level they were at before the Industrial
Revolution. This in turn means that
it’s too late to avoid massive climate-
STELLA WRIGHT is a member of the Population Matters London Group. Already aware of
induced disruption over the next few
how everyone’s life choices impact on the planet, she decided to attend PM’s 2019 annual
decades. There’s more or less complete
conference, which she calls a ‘light bulb moment’: “I realised the biggest way I could reduce
consensus on that score. Beyond that,
my impact on the planet and make it a better place for future generations was to have
many scientists now feel it’s too late
fewer or no children and encourage and empower others to do the same. Since then, I’ve
to restrict the average temperature
spent my free time volunteering for Population Matters with the London group, working on
increase to below 1.5°C by the end of
the social media channels as well as playing an active role in the committee and attending
the century, but still believe it is not too
events to champion better choices.” You can read Stella’s blog on championing better
late to stay below 2°C. And that means
choices at populationmatters.org.
we still have a reasonable chance of
avoiding runaway climate change JONATHON PORRITT CBE is a leading environmental campaigner, who headed up Friends
before things start moving so fast that of the Earth from 1984-90 during some of its most effective campaigning around nuclear
there’s nothing we can do about them. power, tropical deforestation, and food and farming issues. Prior to that he was co-chair
of the Green Party. In 1996, he established Forum for the Future, now the UK’s leading
SW: We know that having one fewer sustainable development charity working to achieve practical solutions in partnership with
child is the biggest thing a person can do proactive businesses, policymakers and the voluntary sector. Throughout his career, he
to lessen their impact on the planet, but has championed the case for addressing human population as the ultimate, underpinning
is this enough? What other choices have sustainability issue and is currently President of Population Matters. Find out more about his
you made in your own personal life, that latest book, Hope in hell: A decade to confront the climate emergency, at jonathonporritt.com.
you think others should also consider?
JP: It is indeed – and we need to keep
spelling that out loud and clear.
However this angers the growing population growth is one of the of ‘intergenerational rage’ will become
number of pro-natalists who believe principal drivers of both the climate one of the most significant factors of the
that the destiny of their country or and the ecological emergencies. next decade, not least as that kind of
ethnic group depends on persuading/ rage will be so important in sustaining
incentivising women to have more SW: What would you say to the current young people’s hopes.
rather than fewer children. Most generation about the importance of
pro-natalists today subscribe to continuing to campaign for change? Do SW: After such a long career as an
right-wing, deeply intolerant and you think we should be even more radical activist, do you feel just as driven as
divisive views that seek to advance the and vocal than even your generation? you always have?
interests of their own particular race/ JP: I feel really bad that this burden now JP: I do indeed!
tribe/culture/people. Apart from that, in rests on the shoulders of so many young
terms of our lifestyles, eat less meat, live people today, and that so many feel
simply, shop rarely and waste nothing. understandable anger that it should CAMPAIGN
have come to this – that our generation WITH US
SW: What gives you the motivation should have been so woefully neglectful
to carry on spreading the in addressing these priorities. So what NOW
population message? happened in 2019, with schoolchildren As one of the key organisations
JP: Because it’s so blindingly obvious! going on strike and the explosion of that focuses on urgently needed
Just as we have to go on speaking the young climate activist voices in our ethical and empowering solutions
truth to those in power, so we have to midst, was enormously important. I to the population issue and their
go on speaking reason to all reasonable see no reason why the anger of young implementation, we need your help.
and caring people – as articulated so people will not continue to grow and Find out more about supporting
eloquently in the 2017 Scientists’ grow as the full extent of our betrayal of our vision of a future in which our
Warning to Humanity. And we have to them is revealed. Nearly 30% of today’s population co-exists in harmony
do that especially to the significant global population is under the age of with nature and prospers on a
number of environment and 18, increasingly well-informed about healthy planet, to the benefit of all at
development NGOs in the West who climate change, increasingly connected populationmatters.org/campaigns.
will still not properly acknowledge that through the internet. The phenomenon
populationmatters.org every choice counts 9
CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
GLOBAL 10 FACTS
VOICES
Globally, almost half of
pregnancies are unplanned.
Source: Guttmacher Institute
VITAL
Major environmental charities such as WWF,
Friends of the Earth and the RSPB don’t
currently promote actions to address population
CHOICES
growth. PM is the only organisation focusing on
ethical solutions to the population issue.
On average, people in the UK are responsible
for 11 times the CO2 emissions of someone in
Nigeria. Global net human-caused emissions
On Population Matters’ 30th of CO2 need to fall by 45% from 2010 levels by
2030, to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050.
anniversary we’re asking all Sources: Global Carbon Atlas, Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
our supporters to make a
commitment towards working
together for a better, brighter 80% of biodiversity loss is caused by
agriculture and 80% of agricultural
future for people and planet. land is used for livestock.
Source: UN Environment Programme
Every choice you make and each
action that you take can and will Gender equality reduces population
have an impact. growth: empowered women
normally choose smaller families.
Humanity is currently using 70%
more of the Earth’s renewable
resources than it can regenerate.
Source: Global Footprint Network
Childfree people and
those with small families
still face criticism, stigma
and intrusive questioning.
The population of the Least Developed
Countries is projected to rise from just over
1bn in 2020 to 1.9bn in 2050.
Source: United Nations Population Division
#MAKEITPOSSIBLE
Only 5% of income gains from
Gross Domestic Product growth
go to the world’s poorest 60%.
Source: Jason Hickel
Policies to address population are not yet included
in major environmental agreements such as
the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change and Convention on Biodiversity.
PU POS
LL TE
OU R
TCONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
10 ACTIONS 10 OUTCOMES
Practise safe sex. Put pressure on Unwanted pregnancies will be
global leaders to support family reduced and improved child and
planning and help end the unmet maternal health provision will
need of 270 million women. be established on a global scale.
Become a member of Population Matters and Other environmental and conservation
encourage others to join, support our campaigns charities start promoting ethical
and help us raise awareness of the population population solutions to tackle our
issue, which is contributing to almost all of the environmental crisis.
major problems facing us today.
Personal CO2 emissions are slashed, helping other climate
Take a transport challenge – solutions be more effective. There are far fewer cars,
drive less, bike, hike, use cities have adapted to be more pedestrian and bike
public transport, go friendly, with more green spaces and rooftops
flight-free. hosting solar panels, plants and vegetable gardens.
Transformative changes to our global food patterns
Take a diet challenge such as Veganuary with a shift from industrial agriculture and much
to reduce your intake of meat and dairy less dependency on meat-heavy diets will preserve
products. Choose organic and local foods. biodiversity and reduce the chance of zoonotic
Plan meals to reduce food waste. diseases such as COVID-19 developing.
Volunteer for or support a women’s rights charity. Find out
more about PM’s Empower to Plan projects that support Increased awareness around the key
small grassroots NGOs in empowering girls, women and issues will lead to greater women’s
communities through the delivery of family planning empowerment, smaller families, better
and environmental conservation services, using the lives and a healthier planet.
power of crowdfunding.
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing personal footprints inspires those around you
Buy less. to make positive choices. Politicians recognise there is
genuine concern about the environmental impact of
consumption and are taking action.
Celebrate small families, only children, and
those who choose to be childfree. Engage Choosing to have smaller families
in discussions about why these are or be childfree is normalised.
positive choices.
Seek out, learn from and amplify Shared understanding and respect for the
the voices and experiences of challenges faced by people everywhere.
people in the Global South. Collaboration across the world
promotes sustainable solutions.
The economy is focused on sustainability
Support campaigns and wellbeing, not growth, to alleviate
for global justice. poverty and move towards global equality.
Campaign! Understand the issues, bust There is government-level support and
the myths, take action, sign petitions, add cooperation to work together on an
your voice as a campaigner for positive international level so that a sustainable
change that benefits people and planet. population co-exists in harmony with nature and
prospers on a healthy planet, to the benefit of all.CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
WHY WE MUST
SEIZE THIS CHANCE FO
© Tom Gilks/BBC Wildlife Magazine
I’m confident we can find solutions.
We need to look at all the issues
as being interconnected – climate
change, biodiversity and population
are intrinsically linked. And we have to
consider everyone in the world as our
neighbours and work together.
The people in power are old, the structure
of our institutions is outdated. Right now,
we need the energy of young people who
have the courage to take risks for the sake
of our future and the future of our planet.
The activism that has come out of the
depths of COVID-19 is astonishing – Black
If we’ve learnt anything from the devastating Lives Matter, the HS2 protests, women
impact of COVID-19, it’s that life will never demonstrating on Clapham Common
and in Australia. People are realising
be quite the same again, which, according that if they want things to change they
to conservationists Chris Packham and
have to take action – like we did when
I was a young conservationist. But we
Megan McCubbin, opens up a whole world of failed. We just didn’t fight hard enough.
opportunity – if we’re brave enough to stand up We have potential solutions to our
problems, although we’re not going to
for change. Here, they share their thoughts on implement them without pain. Our job
what needs to be done, right here, right now... right now is to inform and stimulate
CHRIS: For me, being isolated during the times with unexceptional leaders who
global pandemic hasn’t been a problem. lack imagination and integrity. People are realising
I’ve found it invigorating, reaffirming and that if they want things
re-energising to spend time with nature Despite calls that we need to ‘get back
in my own personal oasis. But, looking to normal’ and it should be ‘business
to change they have to
outwards, I’ve watched a world in as usual’, do we really want this when take action – like we
turmoil, fear, frustration and distress. it’s a bad normal and bad business? It’s did when I was a young
It looked like an experiment to test us, now clear to many people that we have
to see what we’re made of. a boundless opportunity to respond to conservationist. But we
this crisis in a positive way. Yet those failed. We just didn’t
We came out of it brilliantly. Scientists in positions of power are still driven by
took action, using the latest technologies this craving to get back to how things
fight hard enough.
to create a vaccine to beat the disease were – normal education, normal
and a means of administering it. This economics – they’re not seeing this as
demonstrates that when the human a chance to change.
race is put under pressure and gets
the world’s best scientists on to it, no We’ve heard the warnings from climate
problem is ever too big for humans to scientists for years. Now biodiversity
solve. There are no excuses. scientists are adding their voices. It’s an
urgent call that’s not being listened to.
However, what I’d hoped is that this Enormous damage has been done and
horrible hiatus that we brought upon it’s scary. When we break ecology, we
ourselves would enable us to look at the break it forever. But fear is incredibly
things we’d done wrong and set them important as that’s what makes us get
right. Yet, we find ourselves in exceptional things done.
12 populationmatters.org every choice countsCONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
OR CHANGE
people to have conversations so they can of the word ‘activist’. You’re an activist
draw their own conclusions. If we don’t by all the actions that you do, no matter
talk about it we’ll never see change but, how small. You don’t have to join
ultimately, I remain hopeful. Extinction Rebellion. You can write to
your MP, sit down with your daughter
MEGAN: Those in positions of power and talk about the world’s population
may give lip service to the fact that issue and why empowering women and
climate change is terrible, but taking girls across the globe to be able to choose
action means they’ll be out of pocket smaller families will help take the heat off
when they’ve already invested heavily the planet and reduce the pressure of YOU CAN MAKE A
in environmentally destructive schemes human encroachment on every wildlife
such as fossil fuels and HS2. Those habitat. Whatever positive choices you BETTER FUTURE
making decision are the older make, all the small things add up to POSSIBLE
generation and the full impact of climate enable real, transformative change.
This year marks Population Matters
change is not going to affect them –
30th anniversary and the 30-year
but it will affect their grandchildren.
countdown to 2050 – a significant
People are scared to talk milestone for reshaping our
In the UK, we’re cushioned from the
devastation of what’s already happening
about changing their relationship with Earth by
mid-century before it’s too late.
to our planet – apart from those who’ve behaviours and attitudes
been unfortunate enough to have their because it’s difficult. You can help us accelerate our
homes flooded. By a fact of geography, campaigns and inspire essential action
we’re not in the midst of the hurricane – But we have to change by making a donation of £30 (or any
Australia and California are burning, but the narrative to reduce amount you can spare) to enable us to
elevate our message of empowerment
these places are thousands of miles away
from us. It’s a case of out of sight, out of
consumption, habitat and choice-based solutions as being
mind – if a threat doesn’t feel real and loss and population the key to all our futures.
imminent, neurologically, our brains – and we can. We promise to use your contribution
can’t compute it. When we do experience
to campaign for a better future in
a threat first-hand, whether that be rising
harmony with nature. We promise
sea levels or food and water shortages,
to continue empowering women
then we’ll feel a powerful connection with
and girls across the world to choose
the impact of climate change.
their family size. We promise to
lobby policymakers worldwide to
As humans, we’re hardwired to find it
ensure population is included in
difficult to change our minds. If someone
environmental strategies.
expresses a difference in opinion we tend
to see it as a personal attack. People are Please give whatever you can to our
scared to talk about changing their 30th anniversary appeal today at:
behaviours and attitudes because it’s populationmatters.org/30-years or
difficult. But we have to change the send a cheque to: Freepost
narrative – and we can. We have to work POPULATION MATTERS.
together to reduce consumption, habitat
loss and population. The media should
be more honest – the amount of news Chris Packham is one of the UK’s leading naturalists and
dedicated to climate science is miniscule. wildlife TV presenters and Patron of Population Matters.
But we can use social media as a In October 2016, he earned the Christopher Parsons
Award for Outstanding Achievement in recognition
powerful tool for storytelling, to share
of his significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking,
the important messages in an engaging
conservation and the public’s understanding of the
way to open up that dialogue. I can environment. Megan McCubbin is a zoologist, wildlife TV
already see this happening. The new presenter, conservationist and photographer and is the
generation – me and those younger than founder of The Self-Isolating Bird Club on Twitter. The duo have been inspired to
me – when they reach positions of write a book together – Back to Nature: How to Love Life – and Save It, published by
power, the big change will come then. I Two Roads and available via chrispackham.co.uk.
also think it’s important to not be scared
populationmatters.org every choice counts 13CONTENTS | PAGES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
© Unsplash/Jonathan Kemper
Why our planet
needs us to all be
on the same team
What’s the most environmentally damaging
industry? The energy sector? Construction?
It’s actually modern agriculture, explains PM’s
Olivia Nater, and our choices can change things.
To truly achieve sustainability, our systems and increasing the proportion food system would continue to trash the
choices – whether related to family of protein we eat from plant sources.” planet. We zoomed past 7.3 billion back
planning or diets – matter, which is why in 2016 and the human enterprise was
we need to reach across the table to MEAT PRODUCTION RISING not much more sustainable then, or even
everyone – from population activists to However, despite the positive intention, 10 or 15 years ago.
vegan campaigners – who is concerned the facts reveal we’re heading in
about the future of our world. There’s no completely the wrong direction. Long- ADDRESSING ALL THE ISSUES
denying the science – a growing number time vegan Sofia Pineda Ochoa – a Dr Ochoa believes the time has come for
of reports are calling for transformative physician-turned-environmentalist – everyone to face up to reality: “We owe it
changes to our global food systems admits that the recent rise in veganism to the animals, the planet, and ourselves
because the way we produce, consume, seemed to indicate a positive step to be honest about this situation – that
process and distribute food is wrecking forward: “Ditching animal foods was humans are continuing to breed and kill
our planet. going mainstream. Famous athletes were ever more billions of animals for food.
Unsurprisingly, many scientific going vegan. Documentaries on Netflix We cannot help the situation unless we
authorities are urging a global shift were promoting veganism. Popular vegan address all the issues driving this trend in
towards more plant-based diets. In influencers were popping up and even the wrong direction. Our relentless growth
developing countries, many people rely McDonalds and Starbucks were offering is affecting wild animals in countless
on meat as their only source of protein, vegan options. But then I read a UN ways too – from our plastic waste that
but most of us living in wealthy countries report projecting that, in just 10 years, fills whales’ stomachs, to destroying
are able to reduce or eliminate our meat chicken meat and dairy consumption habitats for ever more production of palm
and dairy intake without any ill health would increase by 20%, and beef and oil and cacao. That’s why, in addition to
effects. A University of Oxford study pig meat would increase by 14%. How raising awareness about the impact of
found that with the growing calorie could this be? It turns out that population animal agriculture and promoting plant-
demands of a population approaching growth and rising affluence are outpacing based diets, I’ve shifted my activism to
10 billion by mid-century, beef and milk the growth of diet changes, so in the end, also address our unsustainable human
consumption in western countries would the number of animals used for food is population growth. It’s pretty self-evident
need to fall by 90% and 60%, not decreasing at that we need to address both.”
respectively, to limit global It’s time for the all. It’s not even While we set in motion urgently
climate warming to 2°C. staying even. needed, empowering population solutions
Philip Lymbery, Global environmental It’s actually which take decades to come into effect,
CEO of farm animal welfare community to move increasing – we cannot ignore the readily available
charity, Compassion in World
Farming International, is keen
past silo thinking and by a lot.”
Just as some
actions to shrink humanity’s massive
footprint. It’s time for the environmental
to see a shift from industrial and acknowledge the vegans aren’t community to move past silo thinking
agriculture with much less whole smorgasbord aware that and acknowledge the whole smorgasbord
dependency on meat-heavy we can and of solutions. We all share the same
diets. He says: “We see the of solutions. should be doing values of respect and compassion and a
role for regenerative farming something powerful desire to reduce suffering and
in rebooting tired soils – needed for about population, some population build a happier, healthier world. Let’s
plant-based foods – and bringing back activists don’t realise that ending assume responsibility for the things we
nature. We see the need for a radical population growth alone, although key, can control, such as personal family size
reduction in the number of animals will not solve our environmental crises. and what we eat, and join together in our
farmed (reduce by more than half), Even if we achieve the UN’s low projection campaigning efforts for a better future
introducing mixed, rotational farming of 7.3 billion people by 2100, our current for people, animals and nature.
14 populationmatters.org every choice countsYou can also read
