Talking population in Nigeria, the lifecycle of a smartphone and an event invitation

February2024 Update

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FEBRUARY 2024

Dear John,

Our crowning achievement in February was hosting the Population Conversation event in Abuja, Nigeria. The event was many months in the making, and was preceded by a population survey and the production of a video asking Nigerians what they think about population growth.

Last month we also released a brand-new animation detailing the destructive process that's required to make a smartphone, we published our latest Annual Report and we reported back on the state of contraception access through Europe. We are also hosting a webinar on Monday 4 March that you may find interesting, find out more below.

As we head into the warmer spring months here in the UK, it's a great opportunity to undertake a fundraising challenge for Population Matters and Fundraising Officer Anthony would love to talk to you about the possibilities. Please complete our online fundraising questionnaire to register your interest!

- The PM team

POPULATION MATTERS

Taking Population Conversation to Nigeria

Last month, Population Matters brought together more than 90 people from across the country in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for a unique and groundbreaking event. Campaign groups, government officials, researchers, environmentalists and experts gathered to discuss population growth - one of Nigeria's greatest challenges.

How much damage can six billion smartphones do?

Every single smartphone requires an incredibly intensive production process to arrive in your hand. Multiply that by six billion units a year and the environmental impact becomes monumental. Check out our new animation and blog revealing the unseen damage a new smartphone causes the planet.

Find out more

Read our latest Annual Report 2022-23

Population Matters believes that a better future is possible – one where humanity co-exists in harmony with nature, prospering on a healthy planet. This year, our team has spoken out at international conferences, on-air, online, and in public debates, with the courage and supporting evidence to raise the factor of population as a key driver of and solution to our ecological ills.

Population and environment in Nigeria - too big to go green?

The “Giant of Africa”, Nigeria is a country rich with natural resources, and the largest population on the continent with 219 million people. It is predicted to get even bigger, with the population forecast to grow to 377 million people by 2050. However, its natural resources are already under strain, with rising carbon emissions and increasing deforestation.

POPULATION & ENVIRONMENT

International investment in education needs a strategy

Education is the major driver behind reducing poverty, propelling development and lowering fertility rates. But how should investment in education be approached? In this article, academic Ekaterina Zhelenkova explains that a tailored approach to investment in education is required and why a one-size-fits-all approach cannot work.

Thoughts on declining fertility and a scientists' warning

Population is a complex, multifaceted subject that is often neglected and misunderstood. We know that population numbers have a significant impact on planetary health, so there is a real need for high-quality studies that investigate these issues. That's where the Journal of Population and Sustainability comes in!

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

Climate change has increased premature birth risk by 60%

A new study published in the Science of the Total Environment journal is the first comprehensive review of scientific evidence on how climate change affects children’s health and premature births. The research was partly funded by Population Matters and is the first part of a bigger body of work to be released later this year.

Which European country has the best contraception access?

A new report ranks 47 European countries, looking at access to contraception supplies, counselling and the availability of online information. The four best performing countries are Luxembourg, the UK, France and Belgium, while the lowest ranked countries are Poland, Hungary, Armenia, Cyprus, Turkey and Russia.

TAKE ACTION

Join us on Monday at 3pm (UTC)

Thirty years ago, an international conference in Cairo set the agenda for international work on population, family planning and women’s rights. Much has been achieved since then, but much is left to do. Is it time for a fresh look at the links between population and reproductive rights?

The Breaking Silos report analyses the impact of population growth on vulnerable communities and examines the challenges and opportunities arising from the linkages between sustainable development, reproductive justice and demographic change.

Join the report's authors and our own Florence Blondel at the launch event, to find out how poverty, gender equality and the health and wellbeing of hundreds of millions of women and girls could be improved by embracing positive, empowering population action.

Click below for more info and to sign up!

Quote of the month

"Women are the worst hit in situations like these, so we have to rethink girl child marriage and empower the girl child through good education. This will considerably check population growth with corresponding benefit of a better life for the girl child among others."

- Dr Edu Effiom, Assistant Director, Nigerian Cross River Forestry Commission and member of PM's Expert Advisory Group.

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