Our consistently growing population will continue to put pressure on the natural environment.
We must learn from the past and embed more sustainable approaches in any future developments.
Decision-making needs to fully account for the immediate and ongoing impacts of population and urban growth and its related projects.
Developments do not exist in isolation. They have effects beyond the immediate and cumulative small impacts may combine to generate significant larger issues.
Depending on how it is managed, growth can also exacerbate threats such as climate change or the spread of invasive species.
For example, development in areas already susceptible to flooding increases the risk and intensity of flood events by generating higher volumes of run-off.