Posted on 10/22/2004 1:34:34 AM PDT by Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit
GENEVA — People are plundering the world's resources at a pace that outstrips the planet's capacity to sustain life, the environmental group WWF said Thursday.
In its regular "Living Planet Report," the World Wide Fund for Nature said humans currently consume 20 percent more natural resources than the Earth can produce.
Consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil increased by almost 700 percent between 1961 and 2001, it said. But the planet is unable to move as fast to absorb the resulting carbon-dioxide emissions that degrade the Earth's protective ozone layer.
"We are spending nature's capital faster than it can regenerate," said WWF chief Claude Martin, launching the conservation body's 40-page study. "We are running up an ecological debt which we won't be able to pay off unless governments restore the balance between our consumption of natural resources and the earth's ability to renew them."
Populations of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species fell on average by 40 percent between 1970 and 2000, the study said. It cited destruction of natural habitats, pollution, overfishing, and the introduction by humans of nonnative animals, such as cats and rats, who often drive out indigenous species.
"The question is how the world's entire population live with the resources of one planet," said Jonathan Loh, one of the report's authors.
The study, WWF's fifth since 1998, examines the "ecological footprint" — or environmental impact — of the planet's 6.1 billion–strong population.
To calculate the average size of each person's footprint, it measures land use, pollution, energy consumption, and the level of carbon-dioxide emissions.
The impact of an average North American is double that of a European, but seven times that of the average Asian or African.
Overall, the biggest culprits are the residents of the United Arab Emirates, followed by the United States, Kuwait, Australia, and Sweden. The least damaging are residents of Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh.
Rich nations tread heavily on poorer countries, said Mathis Wacknagel, head of the Global Footprint Network, a grouping including WWF. For example, Western demand for of Asia's palm oil and soybeans from South America has fueled destruction of natural habitats in those regions.
The study also warned of increasing pressure on the planet's resources amid spiraling consumption in Asia, led by fast-growing China and India.
"We can consume energy in a way that's harmful or in a way that's sustainable," Loh told reporters. The technologies are available to enable the world's population to live within the capacity of one planet."
Governments, businesses, and consumers should switch to energy-efficient technology, such as solar power, Loh said, adding that high oil prices may help focus their minds.
"It's not a question of how much oil is left," he said. "The question we should be asking is how much fossil fuel consumption the Earth can sustain. The Earth has a limited capacity."
But the planet is unable to move as fast to absorb the resulting carbon-dioxide emissions that degrade the Earth's protective ozone layer.
Wow, this is new! Sure glad Jonathan made it up. The WWF would not have said this.
Overall, the biggest culprits are the residents of the United Arab Emirates, followed by the United States, Kuwait, Australia, and Sweden. The least damaging are residents of Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh.
Those evil, industrious, well-off nations. Why can't they just live in a state of constant penury, anarchy and corruption . Then our planet would be safer.
For example, Western demand for of Asia's palm oil and soybeans from South America
I am certain the farmers from the countries who grow these products are quite unahppy to be making a decent living and would much rather follow the example of the Somalian counterparts.
Listen folks, we do live on a finite planet with finite resources. We may even now be using more of the sources and sinks than the earth can take. But this type of article is just plain stupid. The are reasonable, market-based mechanisms that can allow us to maintain and increase our wealth and still remain within the earth's limitations.
It is articles like these that blantantly expose the agenda of the left is not focused on preserving the planet, but rather controlling resources.
Ping
I don't know if the WWF will ever face the fact that it is all those Billions of Chinese and Indians breathing out CO2 that is causing global warming! Also the underground peat bog fires in Indonisia are not helping the situation.
But not to worry, the increase in volcanism will cool things down soon.
I wish the WWF would stay out of politics and stick to wrestling! Just kidding :) Seriously, thanks for the info.
What does the World Wrestling Federation know about Natural Resources?
Eventially we'll get off this rock and then what will they say??? Just this solar system alone has more resources than we could ever use in a few million years...
I was thinking the EXACT same thing.
We have more Enviro-wackos than the Earth can sustain.
ROFL! Are you contemplating the same thing I'm contemplating, Pinky? :)
**But the planet is unable to move as fast to absorb the resulting carbon-dioxide emissions that degrade the Earth's protective ozone layer.**
This is such a stupid comment, and one I often hear from Lefty-enviro-facists. They confuse their own propaganda! It's CFCs that (supposedly) degrade the ozone layer. It's CO2 that (supposedly but not really) causes global warming.
WHAT UTTER MORONS!!
Everyone interested should read this:
http://www.forces.org/articles/files/crichton.htm
Much can be, and has been, made of the Left's willful ignorance of not just general history, but even the history of leftwing thought.
Have the learned men at the WWF, for example, never heard of Malthus, or more importantly the absolute failure of his, and their, model?
Oh my, does this mean the world will end?
later
It's not my fault if they can't keep up.
I think so Brain, but how are we going to find rubber pants in our size?
(What are you doing up at this hour? Do you EVER sleep? LOL! )
Well, I've been pulling all-nighters the last few nights trying to finish this article, and I told myself I'd finish today so I wouldn't have to do it again tonight, but as you see. . .
And what are *you* doing up, BTW, LOL!
Nerves. mostly.
Can't sleep much these days.
That house stuff.
Besides, Kid will be up in less than an hour, and my dial-up is (relatively) fast this time of day...
Poit!
I drink herbal tea for my nerves. Chamomile helps, LOL! Hope you get the house thing settled soon.
Your kid sure gets up early!
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