The report finds that more than three quarters of the world’s population lives in countries whose consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal. It warns that reckless consumption of “natural capital” is endangering the world’s future prosperity, with clear economic impacts, including high costs for food, water and energy.
WWF’s international director-general James Leape says world leaders must put ecological concerns at the top of their agenda and ensure the environment is factored into all decisions about consumption, development, trade, agriculture and fisheries management.
“If humanity has the will, it has the ways to live within the means of the planet, but we must recognize that the ecological credit crunch will require even bolder action than that now being mustered for the financial crisis,” he says.
Emissions from fossil fuels are among the top culprits for placing excessive demands on the planet cited by the three environmental groups. Yet, these could be regulated by a successor to the Kyoto protocol, due to be agreed by member nations of the UN at the end of 2009.
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Disastrous ‘eco crunch’ threatens planet – earth – 29 October 2008 – New Scientist Environment
