Flannery: population enquiry needed

(Friday 20 November 2009)

Renowned environmentalist Tim Flannery had called on the government to launch an enquiry into the effects of population growth on the environment.

Professor Flannery is concerned that while immigration is being encouraged, no real analysis has been undertaken of the potential impact of a quickly increasing population on the environment.

“I'm pretty aware that we live in a fragile country with limited water availability, with a significant biodiversity crisis, a limited capacity to feed ourselves because our agriculture is under increasing stress from climate change," he said.

"And what I see is a government-set program for immigration, which really seeks to increase our population very quickly but without any proper analysis of the environmental impacts or indeed the social impacts of that program."

(read the full story at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/20/2748335.htm?section=australia)

To view Tim Flannery's full biography, purchase a copy of Who's Who in Australia 2009 or subscribe to Who's Who Live!. For more information about Who's Who publications, click here.