Addressing the connection between rampant human population growth, overconsumption, and the wildlife extinction crisis.
ABOUT OUR POPULATION AND SUSTAINABILITY WORK
Human population growth and overconsumption are at the root of our most pressing environmental problems, including the wildlife extinction crisis, habitat loss and climate change. To save wildlife and wild places, we use creative media, advocacy and public outreach to raise awareness about runaway human population growth and unsustainable consumption — and their close link to the endangerment of other species.
Our innovative campaigns — like our award-winning Endangered Species Condoms project — focus on common-sense solutions for a just and sustainable future, including the empowerment of women and girls, universal access to reproductive healthcare and education, a healthy and secure food system, clean energy and a societal commitment to giving all species a chance to live and thrive.
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MILESTONES
- Distributed more than one million Endangered Species Condoms across all 50 U.S. states.
- Created the first full-time program by a major environmental group, Take Extinction Off Your Plate, addressing the devastating impact of the meat industry on wildlife.
- Inspired more than 20,000 people to sign our “Earth-friendly Diet” pledge to reduce their meat consumption as a way to protect the planet and take extinction off their plates.
- Helped drive a national conversation about the need to address sustainability in federal dietary guidelines.
- Published a first-of-its-kind analysis of America's biggest grocery companies, which found that the industry is failing to take meaningful action to address its contribution to the food-waste crisis.
- Commissioned a groundbreaking poll showing that most Americans believe human population growth is a significant factor in the disappearance of wildlife.
- Created an innovative social media campaign that inspired people from around the world to share photos of what living in a world of 7 billion looked like and felt like to them.
- Mobilized supporters to submit more than 1,500 letters to the editor to newspapers around the country about the impacts of population growth on wildlife.
- Built a growing network of student activists at colleges and universities across the country through the Campus Wild project and reached hundreds of students with a campus speaking tour.
- Generated momentous media attention on the often ignored issues of human population and overconsumption in top outlets, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, Mashable and dozens of radio and podcast appearances.