Press Releases

Development Lobby "disgrace" on population

The Optimum Population Trust today criticises development groups for "wilfully misinterpreting" its recently launched PopOffsets initiative, under which individuals can offset their carbon emissions by funding family planning services in the developing world.

It describes the response of parts of the development lobby to the initiative as "frankly disgraceful", adding: "The world badly needs a grown-up, rational discussion of the population issue, without blame, abuse and hysteria".

OPT chairman Roger Martin said PopOffsets, launched earlier this month and thought to be the first carbon offsetting scheme to channel funds into family planning, had received much praise, but also some wilful misinterpretation. Oxfam.s head of research, for instance, had described the scheme as tantamount to "blaming the victims", he said.