William “Bill” Ryerson is the founder of Population Media Center (PMC), an organization that advocates for issues that impact the planet’s future, such as reproductive rights and women’s health services. Also serving as chairman of the Population Institute (PI), Bill Ryerson oversaw the launch of FP/Earth in June 2021.
FP (Family Planning)/Earth seeks to delineate ways in which family planning connects with environmental sustainability actions. Taking a scientific perspective, FP/Earth explores how removing barriers that prevent people from accessing contraception and reproductive health support can amplify efforts to mitigate climate change. Positive aspects of lower mortality/lower birth rate include increased food security and reduced use of natural resources.
This ongoing project resumes the research efforts of the University of Ottawa sponsored by the Worldwatch Institute under Family Planning and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (FPESA). The culminating FPESA report linked the size and growth rate of the earth’s population with environmental destruction and global warming. A future focus is empowering women to select the timing, number, and spacing of their births.
