Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

The current level of population, population growth and the way we produce and consume are outstripping environmental capacity. Australia must contribute to achieving a globally sustainable population and encourage and support other nations to do the same. Our environmental impact and ecological footprint is not determined by population numbers alone, but by a range of factors including per capita consumption patterns and levels, distribution of resources, agricultural practices for domestic consumption and export, levels and types of industrial activity and production, urban design and transport options. Australia's population policy should be determined by its commitment to:

ecological sustainability; global and domestic social justice and equity, including women's rights; intergenerational equity; multiculturalism; international human rights obligations; and decent wages and conditions for all workers. Population policy should not be primarily driven by economic goals or to counter the effects of an ageing population. Population policy should consider the geographical distribution of human settlements in addition to population size at the national level. Australia has an obligation to accept humanitarian migration, including that resulting from climate change. The continuing rapid increase in the human population is drastically affecting national and international outcomes in environmental sustainability, human health and welfare, and other areas. Current rates of resource use are not sustainable and are compounded by inequitable distribution of wealth and power.

Aims

The Australian Greens want: