Home

Aims & Objectives

Aims and Objectives

Written by Administrator
Saturday, 01 November 2008 11:23
Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) was established in Canberra in 1988 under the name Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population (AESP). The people who founded AESP felt that, since the major environmental groups were failing to address the issue of population numbers, a separate organisation was needed. While SPA is primarily an environmental organisation, it also addresses the social and economic implications of population growth. SPA has grown into a national organisation with members in all states and territories and branches in eight major cities. Until her death in the year 2000, the poet Judith Wright was AESP's sole Patron. Now five eminent Australians are Patrons of SPA: Professors Frank Fenner, Ian Lowe and Tim Flannery and Drs Mary White and Paul Collins. SPA's bi-monthly newsletter is sent to its members and is available on its website: (SPA National Newsletter Archive). Objectives To contribute to public awareness of the limits of Australian population growth from ecological, social and economic viewpoints. To promote awareness that the survival of an ecologically sustainable population depends on its renewable resource base. To help promote policies that will initially lead to stabilisation of Australia’s population by encouraging near replacement fertility rates and low immigration rates. To promote urban and rural lifestyles and practices that are in harmony with the realities of the Australian environment, its resource base and its biodiversity. To advocate low immigration rates while rejecting any selection based on race. To help promote policies that will lead to the stabilisation, then reduction of global population. Add new comment
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 September 2009 09:39 )

Search Site

Population Quotes

"Australia's population size will be determine by how we manage this old flat and salty land. Population growth is one of the main drivers of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, along with energy consumption, economic growth and land use," he said.-Barry Pittock, retired scientist with the CSIRO's division of Atmospheric Research speaking at a conference titled "Food, Energy, and Population" held in Adelaide at the University of South Australia in July of 2002

Media Release - 28th June, 2010

Gillard on population: An outbreak of commonsense?

Sustainable Population Australia, the nation’s only environment group campaigning on reducing human population, is greatly encouraged by the comments of incoming Prime Minister Gillard about reducing immigration.

National President of SPA, Sandra Kanck, says that after more than two decades of hammering away at this issue and the spectacular population growth, which took place under the auspices of former PM Rudd, it appears Australia now might be on the brink of an outbreak of commonsense. Full Release

Discover biodiversity - every day

Biodiversity is the backbone of all life on earth, and its conservation lies at the very core of IUCN’s work. ‘Species of the Day’ has been launched as part of IUCN’s involvement in the International Year of Biodiversity.

With mounting scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis, it’s time to take action. “The latest analysis of the IUCN Red List shows the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met,” says Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. “It’s time for governments to get serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we’re rapidly running out of time.”

Each day of 2010 will see a different species featured on the IUCN website, with information on the threats it faces. The 365 species selected represent the entire range of taxonomic groups and cover all regions. We have started by featuring some better known species, including the Polar Bear and will move on to cover plants, fungi, invertebrates and more. Both charismatic and obscure species will be featured, providing an insight into the astonishing level of biodiversity that exists.

If you would like to access the archived list of species go to www.iucnredlist.org/species-of-the-day/archives

Add Comment to Each Article

NB: We have added a comments feature to each page. If you would like to add a comment please click on the link under each article. The comments will be moderated first then posted at each location. The right to edit comments if necessary, is reserved.