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Humans are appropriating 20% more resources than Earth can provide mongabay.com March 10, 2008
The "Living Planet Report" — which examines the environmental impact of humanity — shows that man's "ecological footprint" grew by 150 per cent between 1961 and 2000, resulting in depleted groudwater, collapsed fisheries, rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, deforestation, and a 40 percent decline in wildlife populations. "It is possible to exceed ecological limits for a while, but this over-spend leads to the destruction of ecological assets, on which the worldâs economy depends," said the report. "We are spending nature's capital faster than it can regenerate," added WWF Director-General Dr Claude Martin.
"While the EF of the average African or Asian consumer was less than 1.4 hectares per person in 1999, the average Western Europeanâs footprint was about 5.0 hectares, and the average North Americanâs was about 9.6 hectares," it said. The report says it's up to the world's governments to change course and move towards greater sustainability. Martin adds that international agreements on climate, biodiversity, and othe environmental issues can play an important part. "Some might argue that governments are wasting their time talking about goals and targets, and should just get on with the job. But such public commitments to address these critical issues provide a golden opportunity," he explained. "For the first time, the public can hold its leaders accountable for their success or failure in meeting measurable and quantifiable objectives on these critically important issues."
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