The risk of 'ecological credit collapse'

Environmental organizations have just announced an independent study claiming that Earth is facing a much more serious ' ecological credit collapse ' than the current global financial crisis due to abuse. natural resources.

The Living Planet Report (LPR) is implemented by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), London Zoological Society (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network (GFN).

According to the report, it is estimated that people are using more than one third of the Earth's natural resources to replenish natural resources each year.The excessive consumption of ' natural capital ' is threatening the future of the world, with noticeable impacts that prices of food, water and energy are skyrocketing .

The LPR said that greed, resource use despite human consequences are leading to the shrinking forest area, degraded land, polluted water and air, and fish and many species Other objects suffered a serious decline. It is estimated that the economic losses caused by environmental degradation each year amount to US $ 4,500 billion, double the amount of losses of international financial institutions during the ongoing financial crisis.

' The world is struggling with the aftermath of the financial crisis' - AFP quoted WWF director James Leape - "But there is a bigger crisis approaching, an ecological credit collapse due to the neglect of natural resources is the foundation of all life and prosperity '.

The LPR said that more than three-quarters of the world's population live in countries where the rate of resource consumption exceeds the ability of the Earth to regenerate. They become ' ecological debtors ', meaning that they are constantly ' borrowing ' excessively from agricultural land, forests, sea and natural resources. ' We deal with the environment in the way that international financial institutions have been operating lately: seeking immediate benefits without taking into account the consequences ' - Reuters quoted reviewer Jonathan Loh of ZSL.

Shepherd farmers next to the power plant in Shanxi province.A recent study shows that China 's emissions may double or more in the next two decades (Photo: Reuters).

The problem is aggravated by the world population and increasing demand. LPR forecasts that by 2030, if the current situation continues, humanity will need two Earths to continue their current lives. The report says: ' We only have one Earth. The ability of the Earth to maintain the diversity of species is large but only limited. When human needs exceed this capacity, the Earth's ecosystem is destroyed, threatening human life . '

The report mentions the " ecological footprint " - the land and sea area on Earth needed - to satisfy human consumption. According to the report, the average 'ecological footprint' has now reached 2.7ha / person, much higher than the 2.1ha / person limit in the world population. This figure in large consumer countries like the United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Denmark . up to more than 20ha / person. The US and China are the two countries accounting for 40% of the global total of ' ecological footprints '.