“Ecological credit crunch” is far worse than the current financial crisis, due to the over-using of natural resources of the planet by humans, an international study, The 2010 Living Planet report warned. Humans are using 30% more resources than the Earth can restock each year. This is leading to polluted water and air, deforestation, degraded soils, and a dramatic decline in numbers of fish and other species. Overall, this has contributed to a major decline in the world’s biodiversity. At this rate, by 2030 we will need the capacity of two planets’ potential to satisfy our needs for natural resources.
Interestingly, the United States and China account for 42% of the planets ecological footprint. According to the 2010 Living Planet Report, the world’s wealthier countries have being depleting the Earth resources at a faster rate than their poorer counterparts; the largest losses of natural resources have occurred in the developing world while wealthier nations have heal steady or increased their resources.
Title: World is facing a natural resources crisis worse than financial crunch
Author: Juliette Jowit
Publication gurdian.co.uk, 29 October 2008
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/29/climatechangeendangeredhabitats
Student Researcher : Pedro Perez, Sonoma State University
Faculty Evaluator: Forest Andrew Deseran, Sonoma State University