Senate debates

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Motions

Global Population and Natural Resources Wealth

3:38 pm

Photo of Bob BrownBob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend, in the terms circulated, general business notice of motion No. 505 standing in my name and to add the name of Senator Waters to the motion.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the estimation by the United Nations (UN) that the global population, which was some two billion people in 1927, and some three billion in 1959, has now surpassed seven billion people, and may, later this century, build to nine or 10 billion people; and

(b) accepts responsibility for debating this historic and challenging issue and the need for Australia, also estimated by the UN to be the world’s wealthiest nation in terms of natural resources per capita, to take a lead role in devising how the planet may accommodate a greater population, using greater resources per capita, within the planetary boundaries.

Question agreed to.