Living Planet Index: what does it really mean?
The Living Planet Index is the biodiversity metric that always claims the headlines. It’s often misinterpreted. How should we understand it?
October 13, 2022
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Our latest articles, data updates, and announcements
October 11, 2022
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Ocean plastics: How much do rich countries contribute by shipping their waste overseas?
Many countries ship plastic waste overseas. How much of the world’s waste is traded, and how big is its role in the pollution of our oceans?
September 27, 2022
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Wild mammals are making a comeback in Europe thanks to conservation efforts
Hunting and habitat loss drove many large mammals in Europe close to extinction. New data shows us that many of the continent’s mammal populations are flourishing again.
September 6, 2022
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The world has recently become less democratic
Many more people have democratic rights than in the past. Some of this progress has recently been reversed.
July 20, 2022
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The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better.
It is wrong to think these three statements contradict each other. We need to see that they are all true to see that a better world is possible.
July 19, 2022
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People around the world have gained democratic rights, but some have many more rights than others
How democratic have countries been across the world? And how big are the differences between them?
July 11, 2022
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Five key findings from the 2022 UN Population Prospects
Explore the key highlights from the UN’s latest release of its world population estimates.
July 7, 2022
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Guinea worm disease is close to being eradicated – how was this progress achieved?
In the late 1980s, there were near a million new cases of guinea worm disease recorded worldwide. In 2021, there were only 15. How was this achieved?
June 16, 2022
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How does the land use of different electricity sources compare?
All energy production takes up land, but which sources use the most land, and which use it most efficiently?
June 9, 2022
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We need more testing to eradicate polio worldwide
The world is close to eradicating polio, but has been set back in the last few years. To achieve the goal of global eradication, it's crucial to improve testing.
June 1, 2022
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Millions of children learn only very little. How can the world provide a better education to the next generation?
Research suggests that many children — especially in the world’s poorest countries — learn only very little in school. What can we do to improve this?
May 31, 2022
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Ending our COVID-19 testing data updates
As of 23 June 2022, we will no longer add new data points to our COVID-19 testing dataset. We will continue updates of all other metrics in our COVID-19 dataset.
May 30, 2022
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After millennia of agricultural expansion, the world has passed ‘peak agricultural land’
The world produces more food than ever, but the amount of land we use is now falling. This means we can feed more people while restoring wild habitat.
May 18, 2022
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What is the lifetime risk of depression?
Depression is one of the world’s most common health conditions. It's estimated that one-in-three women and one-in-five men have an episode of major depression by the age of 65.
May 13, 2022
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What share of people say they are vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian?
Most people still eat some meat, but surveys suggest that many are adopting a diet with less animal products.
May 9, 2022
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The largest mammals have always been at the greatest risk of extinction – this is still the case today
Humans hunted many of the world’s large mammals to extinction. This threat still exists today, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
April 20, 2022
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Humans destroyed forests for thousands of years — we can become the first generation that achieves a world in which forests expand
Why has humanity destroyed such vast forests? And how can we bring this to an end?
April 7, 2022
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At what age do people experience depression for the first time?
People are being diagnosed with depression at an earlier age than in the past because of increased openness to mental health disorders and improved diagnostic guidelines.
April 4, 2022
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Increasing agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most important problems this century
Agricultural productivity across Sub-Saharan Africa needs to improve to reduce hunger, poverty, and the destruction of biodiversity.
March 24, 2022
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How could the war in Ukraine impact global food supplies?
Both Ukraine and Russia are some of the world’s largest food exporters. How could global food be impacted?
March 22, 2022
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Malaria: One of the leading causes of child deaths, but progress is possible and you can contribute to it
We do not have to live in a world where 1,320 children die from a preventable disease every day.