{"id":2740,"date":"2018-09-19T14:10:11","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T13:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/our-patrons-2\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:57:47","slug":"our-patrons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/our-patrons\/","title":{"rendered":"Our patrons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/span>\"Flower

Our patrons<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our distinguished patrons give us their endorsement and bring greater authority and a higher profile to the issue of population concern<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(We regret that we are unable to provide contact details for or forward correspondence to them.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sir David Attenborough <\/h3>

Naturalist, broadcaster and former controller of BBC Two.

\u201cThe human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrolled way. If we do not take charge of our population size, then nature will do it for us and it is the poor people of the world who will suffer most.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Sir David Attenborough talks about the problem of unsustainable population growth<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dame Jane Goodall (1934-2025)<\/h3>


\u201cIt\u2019s our population growth that underlies just about every single one of the problems that we\u2019ve inflicted on the planet. If there were just a few of us, then the nasty things we do wouldn\u2019t really matter and Mother Nature would take care of it \u2014 but there are so many of us.\u201d <\/em>[Video: Jane Goodall’s message to Population Matters biodiversity conference, 2019<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chris Packham<\/h3>

Naturalist, nature photographer, television presenter and author.

\u201cThere\u2019s no point bleating about the future of pandas, polar bears and tigers when we\u2019re not addressing the one single factor that\u2019s putting more pressure on the ecosystem than any other \u2014 namely the ever-increasing size of the world\u2019s population.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Chris Packham \u2013 Natural Environment White Paper<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Gordon Buchanan<\/h3>

Wildlife filmmaker & presenter, Patron of Environmental Justice Foundation.

In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in recognition of services to the Society and to the wider discipline of geography. MBE for services to charity and wildlife conservation.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sir Partha Dasgupta FRS FBA<\/strong><\/h3>

Frank Ramsey Professor of Economics, University of Cambridge

\u201cPopulation growth, poverty, and degradation of local resources often fuel one another.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Partha Dasgupta \u2013 Nature\u2019s Role in Sustaining Economic Development<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Paul Ehrlich (1932-2026)<\/h3>

Bing Professor of Population Studies, Stanford University \u201cOverdrafts on aquifers are one reason some of our geologist colleagues are convinced that water shortages will bring the human population explosion to a halt. There are substitutes for oil; there is no substitute for fresh water.<\/em>\u201d
<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Adrian Hayes<\/h3>

Record-breaking polar explorer and adventurer, speaker, coach, campaigner and author.

\u201cI\u2019ve seen melting ice caps with my own eyes and got very wet in the process. But, as a passionate promoter of economic, social and environmental sustainability, it is pointless campaigning against climate change or to \u2018save the Arctic\u2019 without addressing the root cause behind it and virtually every other environmental or indeed social issue we face: our unsustainable numbers on this planet. That is the real inconvenient truth.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Adrian Hayes on YouTube<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Professor John Guillebaud<\/h3>

Emeritus Professor of Family Planning & Reproductive Health, University College, London, and past Medical Director, Margaret Pyke Centre for Family Planning.

\u201cShould we now explain to UK couples who plan a family that stopping at two children, or at least having one less than first intended, is the simplest and biggest contribution anyone can make to leaving a habitable planet for our grandchildren?\u201d<\/em> [Video: John Guillebaud \u2013 Sex and the Planet<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Leilani M\u00fcnter<\/h3>

Race car driver and environmental activist.

\u201cThe ultimate intelligence of our species will be determined by whether we face our population issue and get it under control, or continue to sweep it under the rug because it\u2019s an uncomfortable conversation. The future of life on Earth depends on us doing the former.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Malcolm Potts (1935- 2025)<\/h3>



\u201cRapid population growth is at the centre of many of the world\u2019s pressing environmental, economic and security problems\u2026The antidote is family planning, which is not only a universal need but also a basic human right. It is not about telling people what to do; it is about listening to what women want.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Malcolm Potts \u2013 Avoiding the Next Great Humanitarian Crisis<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Judy Ling Wong<\/h3>

Painter, Poet & Environmentalist.

“We need to highlight and make the rich countries understand that we\u2019re all threatened and we need to share. By giving people the resources, lifting them out of inequality, concentrating on women\u2019s health and ability to make choices, supporting them and having social attitudes that do that. If we do these things there\u2019s a much better future for children and the planet.<\/em>“<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Susan Hampshire OBE<\/h3>

Actress and population campaigner.

\u201cIt\u2019s been so obvious to me for so long that cramming ever more people onto our little planet does it ever more damage \u2014 I can not understand why so many people find this so hard to grasp, and why so many Governments ignore it.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sara Parkin OBE<\/h3>

Principal Associate of The Sustainability Literacy Project. Former Chair Population Matters (2019-2025). Co-Founder of Forum for the Future. Long-time campaigner for many green organisations.\u00a0

\u201cAs the soaring demand for food, water and energy continues to exacerbate climate change and social disruption, it is no longer legitimate to leave off the agenda policies for backing women\u2019s reproductive choices everywhere, including adapting positively to naturally falling birth rates.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

president – Jonathon Porritt CBE<\/h3>

President of Population Matters and Founder Director of the Forum for the Future. Former Chair of the United Kingdom Sustainable Development Commission.

\u201cPopulation raises all these questions about religion, about culture, about male dominance in the world \u2014 and (people) get very uncomfortable about that.\u201d<\/em> [Video: Jonathon Porritt \u2013 Why is No One Talking About Overpopulation<\/a>]<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Young voices for the planet: Meet our Choice Ambassadors<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/img>\n\t\t\t\t

Meet our Choice Ambassadors! Dedicated to fighting for the planet, these inspiring young people champion empowering solutions to our environmental crises. Outreach Coordinator Florence Blondel introduces the team. “The lower…<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t

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Our team<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/img>\n\t\t\t\t

Our team of full and part-time staff develops and implements our strategy, under the supervision of our board.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t

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Join<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/img>\n\t\t\t\t

Join the movement to create a better future!<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our distinguished patrons give us their endorsement and bring greater authority and a higher profile to the issue of population concern (We regret that we are unable to provide contact…","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2378,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2740","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nOur patrons - Population Matters<\/title>\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\/our-patrons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our patrons - 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