Population Growth

Human-induced climate change is now well established as the main contributor to our dangerously warming
planet. The industrial age; particularly from the middle of the last century has meant that industrial greenhouse gas emissions are the primary culprit.

The push for renewable power is one way of reducing carbon emissions, but without analyzing all the main drivers of climate change, will never bring about a model for a sustainable future.

The Surf Coast Energy Group accepts that there are 'Limits to Growth'. The questions we ask are:

Is population growth necessary to support economic growth?
Is support for growing the Australian population environmentally sustainable; indeed possible?
Can Australia do better to tackle the issue of national and regional nation state poverty?

We think the answers to these questions go to the core fundamentals for any society that is ethically and morally thinking not only of themselves, but also future generations, not only about people but other lifeforms on planet earth.

Sustainable Population Strategy

SCEG has sent in a submission to the federal government to help to inform them as it develops the Sustainable Population Strategy.

You can view submissions here: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website and for SCEG's submission see attachment.

Attachments:
SCEG Issues Paper on a Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia	183 Kb

Melbourne’s Population: Five Million Is Too Many

Edited speech by Kelvin Thomson, Member for Wills

Richmond Town Hall, 7 November 2010

Resources on Population Growth

Read:

Limits to Growth - the 30 year Update, Meadows, D., Randers, J., & Meadows, D. (2005). Earthscan. UK.
Overloading Australia, O'Connor, M., Lines, W. J. (2009), Envirobook. N.S.W.

Population Growth a Threat to Biodiversity from the ACF

Listen to:

Population: The Big Issue an ABC Radio National program

Watch:

Population growth: What is desirable and sustainable, what is inevitable? the 'SlowTV' video debate

Population. SBS 'Insight'

Overloading Australia - Podcast

Mark O'Connor's presentation to SCEG in August 2009

We would like to thank Mark O'Connor, co-author of Overloading Australia for his presentation.
If you missed out but would still like hear his presentation it is available in mp3 format below. Because of the length, the file has been split into 4 easy to download parts.

Population Discussions

Mark O'Connor keeps us regularly up to date with letters and articles on the ongoing discussion in the media on population. We have copied many of the letters and articles here:

Over 400 energised Surf Coast residents united by a concern for climate change