The Overpopulation Project
TOP – Research and Outreach
Too many people consuming too much
The views and opinions expressed in guest blog posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Overpopulation Project.
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Population growth is still rapid. Has the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) forgotten family planning programs?
Projected population growth of about 2 billion in Africa and elsewhere contributes to poverty, impoverished reproductive health, and degradation of environment and climate. In a new publication in the journal Reproductive Health we argue that this unsustainable growth and the crucial role of family planning are neglected by among others the UN Population Fund. We…
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The Most Appropriate Response to Falling Birthrates? Embrace Them
Many governments are panicking over declining birthrates, but efforts to reverse the trend are ineffective and undermine reproductive freedom. Falling birthrates should instead be celebrated as a sign of increased reproductive agency among women. By Nandita Bajaj As birthrates continue to decline in many industrialized countries, anxious governments are running out of schemes to keep…
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New paper defends a pragmatic definition of overpopulation
Distinguishing ecologically sustainable from excessive human populations is necessary to understand humanity’s environmental challenges and pursue our best options for addressing them. A new publication from TOP presents a definition of human overpopulation based on plausible scientific and ethical criteria, rather than wishful thinking. by Philip Cafaro Last year, TOP published a working paper presenting…
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The Psychology of our Strange Overpopulation Taboo
In the 60s and early 70s, we talked about overpopulation, but now it’s taboo. A new paper, using depth psychology, explains why: Unconscious wishes and fears related to reproduction, envy and omnipotence derail the conversation. by Miriam Voran It’s a bewildering fact: Humans abhor talk of overpopulation. Back in the 60s and early 70s, we…
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Goodbye Paul Ehrlich
We remember a giant of the modern environmental movement, who passed away this past Friday at the age of ninety-three. by The Overpopulation Project Paul R. Ehrlich, an American biologist, died on 13 March. Ehrlich was one of the most influential environmental thinkers of the past half century. He built his early scientific reputation studying…
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Housing affordability improves when population growth eases
Whether immigration fuels the housing crisis is hotly debated. Recent wide fluctuations in population growth have provided a natural experiment. The data are in: slowing population growth makes housing more affordable. by Jane O’Sullivan In the past two decades, many high-income countries have endured unprecedented increases in the cost of homes to buy or rent.…
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Is Legal Abortion Required for Sustainable Fertility?
Our planet can’t sustain an ever-growing number of humans, but many countries have already reached below-replacement birth rates enabling a future rebalancing of humans with nature. While modern contraceptive technologies deservedly take most of the credit, how important has abortion access been? by Richard Grossman, MD, MPH All readers should be aware that globally, humans…
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Watershed Woes
Despite half a century of efforts to improve water quality and restore fisheries in America’s Chesapeake Bay, its ecological condition continues to decline. A new study quantifies the environmental problems within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, explores their causes, and discusses possible futures. by Philip Cafaro As the third largest estuary on Earth, the Chesapeake Bay…
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Recent blog posts
- Population growth is still rapid. Has the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) forgotten family planning programs?
- The Most Appropriate Response to Falling Birthrates? Embrace Them
- New paper defends a pragmatic definition of overpopulation
- Because everyone else is (not) doing it: How social pressures may be the key to understand family size preferences
- The Psychology of our Strange Overpopulation Taboo
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