{"id":15018,"date":"2024-10-17T10:16:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T09:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=15018"},"modified":"2025-09-29T15:49:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T14:49:56","slug":"debunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/debunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunking Myths: Population Distracts from Bigger Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light curved-bottom\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1732\" height=\"1154\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4289\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash.jpg\" style=\"object-position:58% 33%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"58% 33%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash.jpg 1732w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1732px) 100vw, 1732px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Debunking Myths: Population Distracts from Bigger Issues<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2024-10-17T10:16:56+01:00\">17 October 2024<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">As the world grapples with the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, a common argument we face is that focusing on population growth is a distraction from addressing the bigger issues. This myth, however, oversimplifies a complex reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The climate crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Environmental crises like the sixth mass extinction and <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/climate-change\/\">climate change<\/a> demand urgent action. Addressing population is a key part of the solution to those and multiple other environmental problems. The choice is not&nbsp;<em>between<\/em>&nbsp;addressing population and taking other forms of action \u2013 we must do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0.png 1800w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0-1024x728.png 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Human-footprint-landscape_0-1536x1092.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s true that some people drive climate change more than others. And the impacts are felt far more by those least responsible. But the picture is complex and warrants detailed, fair-handed analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our 2022 blog, <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2022\/02\/fat-cats-and-fossil-fuel-companies-whos-to-blame-for-climate-change\/\">Fat cats and fossil fuel companies: who\u2019s to blame for climate change?<\/a>, we laid out the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is extreme and indefensible inequality in carbon emissions, with the richest producing vastly more than the poorest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The richest 10% of people globally, however, are not all rich by Global North standards \u2013 some people on average incomes in their countries fall into that bracket.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People in the \u201cbottom 90%\u201d still produce about half of all emissions, so have a very significant impact on climate change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More and more people are escaping poverty, but as they do so, their emissions go up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Population growth is highest in the lowest income group, who contribute least to climate emissions, but that is unimportant to climate change only if they remain poor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major studies on inequality don\u2019t account for all factors contributing to climate change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fossil fuel companies are responsible for exacerbating the climate crisis in multiple ways, but it isn\u2019t accurate or useful to hold them accountable for the majority of emissions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s essential to address inequality if we\u2019re to control climate change, but that isn\u2019t all that\u2019s needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Positive, empowering solutions which help to reduce population growth will improve lives and play a vital part in achieving climate justice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning to Humanity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2017, thousands of scientists from over 180 countries issued a stark warning about the environmental crises we face. The <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/bioscience\/article\/67\/12\/1026\/4605229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Warning to Humanity&#8221;<\/a> urges urgent global action to address environmental threats. It highlights unsustainable consumption and rapid population growth as major drivers of ecological decline, calling on governments to reduce fertility rates and promote a sustainable human population for the planet\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their call for action painted a grim picture of <em>&#8220;widespread misery and catastrophic biodiversity loss&#8221;<\/em> unless humanity changes course. Today, over 20,000 scientists have signed this warning. Their message is clear: to safeguard our planet, we must address both consumption patterns and population growth together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.png\" alt=\"Mythbusting 3\" class=\"wp-image-15059\" style=\"width:400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.png 1080w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Mythbusting-Graphics-2.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/the-facts-numbers\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Population: the numbers<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0-768x288.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0-1024x384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0-1536x576.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/bigstock-Moscow-Russia-September-208762624_0.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Global population is still rising by more than 80 million\u00a0a year &#8211; and is most likely to continue rising for the rest of this century unless we take action. Find out where the growth is happening and why.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/08\/after-the-spike-and-the-myth-of-depopulation\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>After the Spike and the Myth of Depopulation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-768x513.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-16585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ryoji-iwata-IBaVuZsJJTo-unsplash-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>After the Spike by Dean Spears and Michael Geruso focuses on depopulation, but its arguments are built on shaky ground, stirring up fear, rather than focusing on the facts. What\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/solutions\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Solutions<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop-768x288.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop-1024x384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop-1536x576.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/thomas-young-634092-unsplash_crop.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Ending population growth can be achieved through positive, empowering, choice-based actions which improve people&#8217;s lives and bring multiple other benefits.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fdebunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fdebunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues%2F&amp;text=Debunking%20Myths%3A%20Population%20Distracts%20from%20Bigger%20Issues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F10%2Fdebunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues%2F&amp;text=Debunking%20Myths%3A%20Population%20Distracts%20from%20Bigger%20Issues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the world grapples with the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, a common argument we face is that focusing on population growth is a distraction from addressing the bigger issues. This myth, however, oversimplifies a complex reality.","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":4289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[16,22],"class_list":["post-15018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-families","tag-world_population"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Debunking myths: Population Distracts from Bigger Issues - Population Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As the world grapples with the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, people argue population distracts from bigger issues. But is it true?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/debunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Debunking myths: Population Distracts from Bigger Issues\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As the world grapples with the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, a common argument we face is that focusing on population growth is a distraction from addressing the bigger issues. This myth, however, oversimplifies a complex reality.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/debunking-myths-population-distracts-from-bigger-issues\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Population Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PopulationMatters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-17T09:16:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-29T14:49:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/flooded-street_chris-gallagher-1238085-unsplash.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1732\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1154\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ben Stallworthy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Debunking myths: Population Distracts from Bigger Issues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"As the world grapples with the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, a common argument we face is that focusing on population growth is a distraction from addressing the bigger issues. 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