Our 2020 highlights
Unsubscribe [1]
View in your browser [2]
POPULATION MATTERS END OF YEAR UPDATE
DECEMBER 2020
Director's message
This has been a difficult year for humanity and our hearts go out to all
who have been severely affected by the pandemic. Despite the restrictions
caused by the virus, thanks to our supporters and the smart use of
technology, we were able to make 2020 our most successful year so far.
World Population Day 2019 (pre-Covid) manifested PM’s global reach with
events held in New York, Lagos and London. For 2020, despite all travel
being curtailed, our live online panel discussion brought together
panellists from Africa, America, India and the UK with participants from
around the world.
We were delighted to see our patrons Sir David Attenborough and Chris
Packham present major BBC and Netflix programmes addressing population
challenges and solutions (see below).
Our message is cutting through, with media coverage achieved in 17 nations,
more than 11,000 people from over 25 countries taking part in our online
campaign actions, and our website engaging 850,000 visitors from 230
nations.
Many thanks to you, as one of our supporters. It is a huge boost to all of
us in the team to know that a growing body of people understand and back us
in taking up the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
After everything we’ve faced this year it can be difficult to believe in
a future where humans can thrive in balance with nature, but if you feel
able to at this time, becoming a member [3] will help make it possible. And
don’t forget to enter our prize competition [4] to win a signed copy of
Chris Packham's new book _Back to Nature_ – the perfect reminder of our
essential connection to Earth for the coming year.
With all best wishes for as good and safe holidays as possible,
- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters
DECEMBER STORIES
What COVID-19 has taught us about our relationship with nature
As 2020 draws to a close, humanity is reflecting on a particularly
difficult year. The slow but sure roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination
programmes presents a light at the end of the tunnel, yet new pandemics are
just around the corner unless we confront our broken relationship with
nature.
Read more [5]
Are climate ambitions falling short?
The (virtual) UN Climate Ambition Summit 2020 took place on 12 December.
With targets being missed and the obvious link between rising population
and rising emissions, we ask why much-needed, positive solutions are still
being left off the international agenda.
Read more [6]
OUR 2020 HIGHLIGHTS
An international World Population Day
With the pandemic ruling out a physical event to mark our most important
day of the year, World Population Day (11 July), we held an online panel
discussion with environment, development and reproductive rights experts
from 3 different continents and accessible to viewers around the world.
This year's topic was the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we
also produced a comprehensive report and a short informative video on how
empowering population solutions are vital to their achievement.
Watch the videos and learn more [7]
Patron power
Our wonderful patrons were busy raising awareness of the population issue
this year. The highlights included the release of Chris Packham's excellent
BBC documentary _7.7 Billion People And Counting [8]_, as well as Sir David
Attenborough's Netflix documentary _A Life On Our Planet [9]_, which
reached millions of viewers with its strong population message. We were
also honoured to welcome wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan [10] among our
patrons.
Empowering people and communities
Thanks to its generous supporters, and despite the challenges faced during
2020, our Empower To Plan (E2P) programme has been able to raise close to
£21,000 so far this year, across six projects and two continents. Two of
our live projects, Family Medical Point in Uganda, and You Before Two based
in Nottinghamshire, are close to reaching their targets. Can you help fund
their vital on-the-ground work by giving a small gift?
Support E2P projects [11]
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SAY?
Take our supporters survey!
Thanks to your support this year, we’ve continued to make inroads across
the world despite many challenges. If you haven't already completed our
first annual survey, please do get involved and tell us what you think!
We’re excited to continue working with you to spread our message even
further in the year, and decade, ahead.
Complete the survey [12]
135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2020 Population Matters
[13] [14] [15] [16]
Links:
------
[1] [link removed]
[2] [link removed]
[3] [link removed]
[4] [link removed]
[5] [link removed]
[6] [link removed]
[7] [link removed]
[8] [link removed]
[9] [link removed]
[10] [link removed]
[11] [link removed]
[12] [link removed]
[13] [link removed]
[14] [link removed]
[15] [link removed]
[16] [link removed]
