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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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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Housing Costs a Matter of Supply and Demand
The Trump administration’s favors to big business threaten America’s environment. But its immigration crackdown has sparked welcome debates about the costs and benefits of continued growth, including its impact on affordable housing. by Henry Barbaro and Philip Cafaro Last month, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance argued that a surge in illegal immigration has pushed housing…
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Why is Africa’s extreme population growth ignored, despite very serious consequences? And how will Europe respond?
Continued rapid global population growth is unsustainable, but the media instead focus on low birth rates in developed countries. Most future growth will be in Africa, where young people want to emigrate to Europe or other developed regions. How will EU countries act in the face of Africa’s extreme population growth and increasing migration? By…
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The argument from failure
After seven years of research and blogging here at TOP, it’s sometimes hard to think of new things to say about population matters. But recent events suggest a new argument for overpopulation that readers may not have considered. By Philip Cafaro The top global environmental stories of the past month have been the failure of…
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Silence about “överbefolkning” in Swedish public discourse, but is there a change in the media?
Överbefolkning (=overpopulation) generated no hits on the Internet for the Swedish government, state agencies, municipalities, or environmental organisations. In Sweden, the concept överbefolkning seems to be neglected by those in power as part of a culture of silence, though hits from Swedish media might indicate a change. by Dag Lindgren Overpopulation generates numerous negative effects…
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Source: Barro-Lee Educational Attainment Dataset (2015): PRB Data Sheet 2015
