Graphic from the WWF report The Living Planet
Mankind. The worst thing for the planet Earth, according to The Living Planet Report (download the report – pdf (4.4 MB). The report is written in an easy to read style, not for hardened economists, so its worth taking a look at it and not just the quote here.
We’re going to need a second planet in a little over 20 years:
The recent downturn in the global economy is a stark reminder of the consequences of living beyond our means. But the possibility of financial recession pales in comparison to the looming ecological credit crunch.Whether we live on the edge of the forest or in the heart of the city, our livelihoods and indeed our lives depend on the services provided by the Earth’s natural systems. The Living Planet Report 2008 tells us that we are consuming the resources that underpin those services much too fast – faster than they can be replenished. Just as reckless spending is causing recession, so reckless consumption is depleting the world’s natural capital to a point where we are endangering our future prosperity. The Living Planet Index shows that over the past 35 years alone the Earth’s wildlife populations have declined by a third. Yet our demands continue to escalate, driven by the relentless growth in human population and in individual consumption.
Our global footprint now exceeds the world’s capacity to regenerate by about 30 per cent. If our demands on the planet continue at the same rate, by the mid-2030s we will need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles…
It’s probably a good thing that oil production is set to peak around 2011. That will focus everybody’s mind on squandering less. In particular, governments and economists need to stop thinking that 2-4% growth every year is healthy, we all need to support efforts to limit population growth and society needs to stop encouraging the use of disposable and short-lifetime products.
