Time to learn real meaning of environmental sustainability (APR)
It is long past the time when our politicians learnt what ‘environmental sustainability’
really means, according to the newly elected national president of Sustainable
Population Australia inc (SPA), Dr John Coulter.
“For too long ‘sustainable’ has been used as a euphemism for all that is good and
acceptable,” says Dr Coulter. “Politicians and others have added ‘sustainable’ to
every announcement while they commit themselves to ever larger population and per
capita consumption.”
But Dr Coulter says that further growth in consumption and population is
environmentally unsustainable.
“We are not living sustainably even now. One third of Australia’s agricultural activity
is severely curtailed through lack of water and every city’s water supply is in dire
straits. There will be worse to come with climate change.”
Dr Coulter says we have to aim for a stable population in Australia at a level that is
environmentally sustainable for the indefinite future.
“In light of climate change and the imminence of Peak Oil – both of which will lower
the carrying capacity of the continent – this level is likely to be a lot less than the
current 20.6 million, even with a cut in consumption.
“Yet Peter Costello wants increased fertility with three-child families and his
government has very substantially increased immigration. Every state government
seeks larger populations on the completely false premise that it will speed economic
growth – and even if it did, this would be a double whammy on the environment.”
Dr Coulter also notes that Steve Bracks wants another million in water-starved
Melbourne by 2030, Mike Rann another half million in Adelaide, and Peter Beattie
seeks ever more population growth in south-east Queensland, even while reservoirs
turn to dust.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth and every state promote the growth of international
tourism.
“Yet this is the fastest growing source of greenhouse emissions leading to climate
change and will worsen all the calamitous situations above,” says Dr Coulter.
Further information: John Coulter 08 8388 2153