Running on empty: Consumption rates skyrocket
21 Oct 2004
Sydney, Australia: The human race is consuming the planet's resources at a pace outstripping its capacity to support life, according to a report by WWF, the global conservation organisation.
The Living Planet Report 2004 shows humans now consume 20 per cent more natural resources than the earth can produce, and that populations of terrestrial, freshwater and marine species fell on average by 40 per cent between 1970 and 2000.
"We're running on empty, Australia's natural resource consumption is one of the worst in the world," Greg Bourne, WWF-Australia CEO, said. "We must push forward on finding a balance between our consumption of natural resources and the earth's ability to renew them."
The Living Planet Index reveals that from 1970 to 2000 populations of terrestrial and marine species dropped by 30 per cent, while freshwater populations plummeted by a spectacular 50 per cent. WWF believes this is a direct consequence of increasing human demand for food, fibre, energy and water.
Sharpened and enhanced data confirm the trend WWF pointed out in previous Living Planet reports. Our ecological footprint" - that is the impact of humanity on the earth - has increased two and half fold since 1961.
According to the report, Australians have the 4th worst ecological footprint after the United Arab Emirates, US and Kuwait - it is 3.5 times the global average.
The 'footprint' of the average American is around 9.5 hectares while Australians have a 7.7 ha, Canadians a 6.4 ha and British 5.4 ha 'footprint'.
The 2004 report shows the world average footprint is 2.2 ha per person while there is only 1.8 hectares of land to provide natural resources for each of the people on the planet.
This is worked out by dividing the earth's 11.3 billion hectares of productive land and sea space between its 6.1 billion people.
Particularly alarming is Australia's energy footprint - dominated by our use of fossils fuels such as coal, gas and oil. This is the fastest growing component of the ecological footprint, globally it has increased by nearly 700 per cent between 1961 and 2001. Australia needs more than four global hectares per person to absorb the amount of carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels.
"A sustainable Australia means we dramatically reduce our impact on the environment ? we must urgently step up efforts to switch to renewable energies and promote energy efficient technologies, buildings and transport systems," Mr Bourne said.
"Only a quantum leap in our nation's efforts to deal with key threats such as declining water quality and wetland health, weeds and pest animals, States still land-clearing, and climate change will reduce our impact," he said.
The year 2004 has marked a worrying time for Australian native species, with 58 new plants and animals added to the Threatened Species List. There are now 1,695 plants and animals facing the threat of extinction in Australia.
WWF estimates that up to 20 per cent of Australia's half million or so plants and animals could be threatened with extinction by 2010.
While WWF is striving to fulfil its mission of building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, it is also calling on governments to act on their commitments to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
For More Information
Jacqueline McArthur, WWF-Australia Communication Officer, 02 8201242, 0408626780.
Andy Ridley, WWF-Australia Senior Communications Officer, 0 82021237, 0415865992
Virginia Dew, WWF-Australia Communications Officer, 02 820212
