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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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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What Are Floors Without Ceilings?
Staying within safe planetary boundaries for global resource use and pollution makes good sense. Are there a complementary set of economic and social measures that could help human societies remain within ecological limits? by Erik Assadourian Not long ago a new update to the Planetary Doughnut was published in Nature, complete with 35 indicators to…
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Making sense of Trump’s immigration crackdown
Two weeks ago, the latest crackdown on a U.S. “sanctuary city” led to tragedy, after a federal agent shot a protester to death in Minneapolis. We interview Karen Shragg, a Minnesota native and long-time overpopulation activist, on the current situation in the Twin Cities and where we go from here. by The Overpopulation Project Over…
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Overpopulation is a major factor in global mortality
The media love a crisis but ignore systemic problems. Storms and fires get much attention yet kill relatively few people, whereas neglected overpopulation kills many more, through diseases, malnutrition and other causes. By Frank Götmark and Malte Andersson The late Hans Rosling, his book Factfulness and the website Our World in Data describe medical advances…
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Major UN report highlights overpopulation and overconsumption, need for profound transformation
A major new review of the state of the environment by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides a comprehensive and refreshingly honest exploration of the root drivers of environmental degradation, and stresses the urgent need to overhaul how we live on this planet. by Olivia Nater, originally published by Population Connection The 7th edition…
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TOP end of year roundup
Thanks to our readers and supporters for an engaging and productive year. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing new work in the coming one. by The Overpopulation Project 2025 was Frank’s, Jane’s and Phil’s eighth year with The Overpopulation Project. Along with our ”truly TOP” research associate Pernilla Hansson, we continue to…
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