'''Population Matters''', formerly the Optimum Population Trust, "is a registered United Kingdom the leading population charity, think tank, and in the UK. We campaign group concerned with to change the impact of way people think about population growth on the natural environment, specifically natural resources, climate change and biodiversity."
Population Matters was founded as the Optimum Population Trust in 1991 by the late [[David Willey]], its first chairman. Its purpose was to collect, analyse and disseminate information about the sizes of global and national populations, and their relations with the carrying capacities of different countries and the quality of life of their inhabitants. It was intended that such information should help people to make informed choices about policies affecting their and their descendants' welfare. Special emphasis was given to the situation in the United Kingdom." <ref>[http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.aboutus.html About], Optimum Population Trust, accessed April 24, 2008.</ref> [http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.aims.html Aims]
[[Jack Parson's Archive]] "has been created by the Optimum Population Trust to publicise and preserve Jack Parsons' unique published monographs and articles, which cover a period of more than 40 years, and earned him a sound international reputation." <ref>[http://www.jackparsonsarchive.org/ Home], Jack Parson's Archive, accessed September 16, 2008.</ref>
*[[Simon Ross ]] - Chief Executive <ref>[http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.aboutus.html About], Optimum Population Trust, accessed January 12, 2011.</ref> [http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.media.html Media Coverage][http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.journal.html Journal] *Best OPT was awarded the best online news service - [[Population Institute]] Awards in 2009/10
==Principal policies==
OPT recommended the following population policiesPopulation Matters describes its mission as follows: <blockquote>Globally, that full access to family planning should be provided to all those who do not have it, that couples should be encouraged to voluntarily "stop at two" children to lessen *We campaign for the impact stabilisation and gradual decrease of family size on the environmentpopulation to sustainable levels by voluntary means, globally and that this should be part of a holistic approach involving better education within the UK.*We lobby government and equal rights international bodies to increase support for womenreproductive health and other relevant policies.*We engage with the broader developmental and sustainability movement to encourage them to include population in their thinking.In *We research matters of population in relation to the UKenvironment, that population should be allowed to stabilise sustainability and decrease by not less than 0other issues.25 per cent a year *We disseminate this research to an environmentally sustainable level, by bringing immigration into numerical balance with emigration (zero net migration), by making greater efforts to reduce teenage pregnanciesthe public and interested parties via our website, through the media and by encouraging couples to "Stop at Two" childrenevents.<ref>[http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt*We ask individuals to consider the impact of population size on sustainability and the environment in their decisions on family size.policies.html]OPT Population Policy Proposals</ref></blockquote>
==Trustees==
*[[Alan Stedall]] is an IT Director and has led a number of large-scale systems projects for several UK businesses.
===Trustees (2010)===
Accessed November 2010: <ref>[http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.aboutus.html Directors], Optimum Population Trust, accessed November 14, 2010.</ref>
*Professor Stephen Bown is Professor of Laser Medicine at University College London
*Harry Cripps MA MSc DMS CEng CEnv FIChemE MEI, is a chemical engineer, energy efficiency consultant and chartered environmentalist
*Pippa Hayes is a full-time general practitioner in Devon and mother of two teenage boys.
*Roger Martin, CHAIR OF TRUSTEES, was a senior diplomat, resigning 20 years ago; becoming a leading environmentalist in the South-West and serving on many green NGOs and quangos.
*Alan Stedall is an IT Director and has led a number of large-scale systems projects for several UK businesses.
*[[Yvette Willey]], Company Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary. Yvette Willey has been with OPT since its foundation and is a businesswoman with treasury and accounts experience.
==Patrons==