Understanding the populationenvironment debate:

Conference aims and objectives

The overall aims of the 2007 Fenner Conference were:

1. to advance understanding of the population and environment nexus in Australia; and

2. to assist policy development and rational community debate by providing sound scientifically-based information about population and environment.

Specific objectives – with particular reference to Australia's urban and peri-urban areas – included:

• providing an update on population growth and settlement patterns;

• examining population impacts on water and explore the role of water as a determinant of population size and distribution;

• gaining government and industry perspectives on the water-population connection;

• exploring innovative technical solutions for water management in Australia; and

• engaging influential people from the government and business sectors as active participants in the Conference.