How Many People - The Best Population Size for Our Planet

Projects

Population Education

When people everywhere understand the link between the size of the human population and the many forms of environmental degradation facing our planet, we will be much more effective at dealing with these social stresses that originate from scarcity of resources.

The Population Education Program trains over 400 volunteer teachers annually in effective ways to present population concepts to students around the county. More about Population Education

Local Stewardship Stories

While some people in communities want rapid population growth, many do not. Here are articles that HowMany.org has produced about communites, usually overwhelmed by rapid development, who have seen the consequences, and taken effective steps to preserve the positive things about their towns by blocking the developers.
More about view local stewardship histories

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Our Mission

To empower people to determine the best population size for their region and for the planet. [more]

In the News

Global Population Speak Out (GPSO) - February 2010
A month-long grassroots initiative urging us each to take action around population. Population is an approachable issue, especially in the context of sustainability initiatives and discussions; we can each make a difference. Over 150 sponsors, and 229 actions reported so far. Visit their website, learn more, and become a population activist.

Florida's "Hometown Democracy" amendment - Blocking Build-Build-Builders. September 27, 2009 - Orlando Sentinel .
Our development pandemic threatens the economy as much as the environment. Building more houses when the number of buyers has not increased deflates the value of houses that is going to linger for years and years. [article]

More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want by Robert Engelman.
In this new book, Engelman offers a vision that celebrates women’s widespread desire for smaller families. Mothers aren’t seeking more children, he argues, but more for their children. If they’re able to realize their intentions, we just might suffer less climate change, hunger, and disease, not to mention sky-high housing costs and infuriating traffic jams. [article]

A Pivotal Moment: Population, Justice & The Environmental Challenge
Dec 23,2009 This new book compiled by Laurie Mazur discusses environmental issues as they affect equality, justice and sustainability. Regarding the UN's low and high estimates for World population in 2050 "if we take seriously the twin imperatives of sustainablilty and equity, it becomes clear that it would be easier to provide a good life - at less environmental cost - for 8 rather than almost 11 billion people." [Press Release]

California Water Myths: Finger Pointing
Dec 14,2009 Current legislation will force urban users to decrease water usage 20% by 2020. The authors say we shouldn't blame agriculture. That's true, but they don't mention overpopulation. They don't say that if population doesn't grow 20%, we won't have to cut back our water usage. Might this glaring ommision have anything to do with the political and economic power of the developer's lobby in Sacramento? Hmmm... [article]

[Past News Articles]

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