Looking back at our environment future

Back in 2013, Sustainable Population Australia hosted the Fenner Conference, featuring a stellar cast of speakers. It's fascinating to hear Dr Jane OSullivan, Dr Haydn Washington, Dr Simon Michaux and Dr Michael Lardelli as they talk about the environmental challenges facing Australia and the world.

It's instructive to think about what has - and hasn't changed since then. World population continues to surge, having grown from 7.2 to 7.7 billion. Peak oil has been deferred, largely due to fracking in the US, where production has grown significantly. Populist demagogues hold power in major nations, either denying or ignoring climate change while the Murdoch press has been relentlessly hostile.

In spite of that, the cost of renewable energy has plummeted to the point where it is now out-competing fossil fuels, and installed capacity has vastly increased. Climate change activism has grown into an international movement as people become aware of the dire threat it poses.

Meanwhile, the question of population has remained a fringe issue at the national level although locally, Australians are becoming increasingly concerned.

Interviews by Rod (a SPA member), with thanks to Jenny Goldie from SPA.