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Population Matters a charity which campaigns to achieve a sustainable human population, to protect nature and improve people’s lives, has awarded Miley Cyrus it’s Family Choice prize to mark UN World Population Day (July 11)

The charity celebrates Miley Cyrus using her voice to champion women and the planet.

The pop singer has spoken out against recent attacks on women’s reproductive rights and criticisms of women who choose to be child free. Population Matters celebrates Cyrus for using her voice to advocate for women’s freedom to make their own reproductive choices.

Cyrus stated, “We’re expected to keep the planet populated. And when that isn’t a part of our plan or our purpose, there is so much judgment and anger that they try to make and change laws to force it upon you…” 

With the overturning of Roe v Wade, removing American women’s constitutional right to an abortion, there have been increasing attacks on women’s rights, in favour of policies to pressure women to have more babies to reverse falling birth rates. We don’t need more people, when the Earth is already struggling to cope with the unsustainable consumption of our current population, demanding the equivalent resources of 1.7 earths (Source: Global Footprint Network).

Cyrus has spoken out about humanity’s unsustainable demand on the planet and the need to act for future generations.

Cyrus stated, “We’ve been doing the same thing to the earth that we do to women. We just take and take and expect it to keep producing. And it’s exhausted. It can’t produce. We’re getting handed a piece-of-shit planet, and I refuse to hand that down to my child. Until I feel like my kid would live on an earth with fish in the water, I’m not bringing in another person to deal with that.”

Cyrus’s words echo those of other young people who are increasingly choosing to remain child free for environmental reasons.

Population Matters supports those who choose to be childfree or have a small family in order to reduce their environmental impact.

Each one of us puts more pressure on strained natural resources, demanding more food, water, and land. Our overconsumption of resources causing the triple planetary crisis: climate change, accelerating wildlife extinctions, and increasing pollution and waste. Population growth has been identified as one of the biggest drivers of carbon emissions causing climate change (IPCC 2022).

Population Matters is giving its other Change Champions awards to individuals and organisations across the globe for their brave work promoting reproductive rights, defending the environment and enlightening the public about how being child free or having a smaller family is the best choice for planet and people.

Population Matters Head of Campaigns Dominic Nutt said:

“On World Population Day, we should celebrate the lives of all eight billion of us, but not lose sight of the fact that the number itself represents a failure to deliver the lives that everyone deserves. If we had done a better job over the last few decades in empowering women, meeting the unmet need for contraception, providing everyone with education and tackling poverty, we wouldn’t have eight billion today.

“But there is good news – recipients of Population Matters’ Change Champions awards can inspire us all. It really is our privilege to support and publicise them in any way.

“What unites these stories is choice – promoting it, celebrating it, defending it and exercising it. At Population Matters, we believe choice is at the heart of tackling our most pressing problems, including unsustainable population growth and consumption. We hope these good news stories will give people hope and motivation in difficult times.”

The awards also highlight individuals and organisations whose amazing work sometimes receives little attention beyond their own communities. Other recipients include:

• Lifetime Achievement: Dr Joan Castro. Founder of PATH Foundation Philippines Incorporated (PFPI), that aims to improve health, alleviate poverty, and promote environmentally sustainable development in the Philippines.
• Dr Joan Castrol says: “I am honoured to be one of those chosen by Population Matters to receive the prestigious award.  Thank you for the recognition of our work at PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc.”
• Women’s Champion: Joan Kembabazi – Joan Kembabazi is the founder of the Gufasha Girls Foundation, a non-profit community-based organization whose primary work is to advocate against child marriage and promote girls’ education.
• Joan Kembabazi says: “I am so honoured and humbled for this awesome recognition and award. This award means a lot to me as a grassroots girls and women empowerer.”
• Young Campaigner Award: Hadiqa Bashir is a 21-year-old feminist activist from the tribal regions of Pakistan. She is the founder of Girls United for Human Rights (GUHR), and leads a passionate team in challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and championing the rights of girls and women.
• Hadiqa Bashir says: “I am truly honoured and delighted to receive the Young Campaigner Change Champion Award from Population Matters. It is an incredible privilege to join such a distinguished group of awardees.”
• Earth Champion: Daniel Cáceres Bartra – is a marine conservationist and environmental advocate from Peru. His work focuses on marine biodiversity, ocean health, and sustainable practices to protect our oceans.
• Best Online Campaign: Anna Hughes – founder Flight Free UK, a campaign that challenges people to pledge no flying for a year. This initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions from air travel and encourage a shift towards more sustainable travel options.
• Best Storyteller Award: Veronika Perková – Environmental journalist, Nature Solutionaries brings reproductive justice & conservation together.
• Shine A Light Award: Bella Lack – young activist and author of The Children of the Anthropocene.

You can find out more about the 2024 Change Champions Awards here.