When we talk about ways to stop climate change, one issue that often comes up is to curtail the number of humans on the planet. As the logic goes, since human consumption contributes to pollution, then if there are less humans, there will be less pollution and limit climate change.
Unfortunately, this "common sense" logic relies upon false assumptions based in histories of eugenics and false narratives spread by fossil fuel industries. These histories continue to impact science today.
Since 2024, researchers with FRI have been exploring how a form of fossil-fuel-funded misinformation becomes congealed into environmental models and assessments. Specifically, this research looks at how myths that inaccurately claim human population size change causes environmental problems found their way into models of climate and environment thanks to lobbying by fossil fuel interests that can be traced back to the 1940s. As part of this research, we are creating briefings and a report for those who work in environmental modeling and policy spaces.
Avoid Spreading Populationist Misinformation: Alternative Metrics for Scenarios (coming soon)
Towards More Robust Model Normalization Protocols for IAMs: Preventing Populationist Spillover with Celia Ramos Normal Form (coming soon)
Understanding & Addressing Populationist Metrics in Models of Climate and Environment: A Data Practices & Policy Report (coming soon)