Can development be environmentally sustainable?

Since Thomas Malthus observed in 1798 that mankind was living "beyond its means" much debate has concerned the extent to which the human species can develop the Earth to suit its needs. In contemporary Australia, this debate continues on two main fronts: the optimal population that the continent can sustain, and the extent to which the environment can be safely altered to suit human needs. This feature presents some recent thoughts as to how soon Malthus's dire prediction might come true, how to avoid it, and whether it might come true at all.

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