Humans living far beyond planet's means: WWF

(Reuters) ^ | Tue Oct 24, 6:29 AM ET | Ben Blanchard

[flyingtabby]

BEIJING (Reuters) - Humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050 on current trends, the WWF conservation group said on Tuesday.

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Populations of many species, from fish to mammals, had fallen by about a third from 1970 to 2003 largely because of human threats such as pollution, clearing of forests and overfishing, the group also said in a two-yearly report.

"For more than 20 years we have exceeded the earth's ability to support a consumptive lifestyle that is unsustainable and we cannot afford to continue down this path," WWF Director-General James Leape said, launching the WWF's 2006 Living Planet Report.

"If everyone around the world lived as those in America, we would need five planets to support us," Leape, an American, said in Beijing.

People in the United Arab Emirates were placing most stress per capita on the planet ahead of those in the United States, Finland and Canada, the report said.

Australia was also living well beyond its means.

The average Australian used 6.6 "global" hectares to support their developed lifestyle, ranking behind the United States and Canada, but ahead of the United Kingdom, Russia, China and Japan.

"If the rest of the world led the kind of lifestyles we do here in Australia, we would require three-and-a-half planets to provide the resources we use and to absorb the waste," said Greg Bourne, WWF-Australia chief executive officer.

Everyone would have to change lifestyles -- cutting use of fossil fuels and improving management of everything from farming to fisheries.

"As countries work to improve the well-being of their people, they risk bypassing the goal of sustainability," said Leape, speaking in an energy-efficient building at Beijing's prestigous Tsinghua University.

[flyingtabby]

I love these so-called "studies" that are done, and trotted out to the masses as serious stuff. Note they never tell how the "studies" were done, nor do they include the data sets, the controls, the variables, you name it. They think by merely saying "studies were done" it somehow bears weight and import. BLEAH!

[shankbear]

All of those doing this study should depart the planet or stop eating and drinking.

[raybbr]

Well, common sense tells you that there is only so much land for vegetation and raising cows. At some point we will reach saturation.

[Jaysun]

This is bullshit. Nevertheless, perhaps the "true believers" (the author and the source of this 'study') could do the noble thing and help mankind by sucking the barrel of a pistol until they hear a bang?

[kingu]

Well, it seems like the simple answer is just to eject the Muslims from the planet. That'll take care of all the excessive consumption in the middle east, plus free up a tremendous amount of space for the rest of us to use.

What? Not permitted. Aww, come on, why not? Oh, right, Americans are evil. Damn. Why do I keep forgetting that. Fine. Everyone in America: stop buying anything from outside the United States. Let's save the planet everyone! Show the world how to consume only what you produce...

[Thunder90]

Extreme Enviromentalism is a backdoor to Socialism.

[clamper1797]

WWF ... What would wrestlers know about world resources ???

[Jaysun]

Well, common sense tells you that there is only so much land for vegetation and raising cows. At some point we will reach saturation.

This is why such idiocy grows. Check for yourself and see how much land we've "raped".

[edpc]

Sorry....I know they changed it for legal reasons, but whenever I see WWF, I still think wrestling. Somehow, I just don't this guy saying, "Whatch gonna do when eco-disasters run wild on you, brother?"

[neodad]

WWF ... What would wrestlers know about world resources ???

That was my first thought, and my second was WTF?

[ConservativeMind]

This is only true in those places around the globe where farming can't sustain their populous.

Blame Africa.

[xc1427]

So called "experts" doing studies because they could not make it in the private sector. I wouldn't trust these individuals as far as I could throw the Chrysler Building.

[familyop]

"Humans living far beyond planet's means: WWF"

Ha! Now even professional wrestlers are on the enviro-whacko bandwagon! I told you all that it was nothing but a circus!

[gaijin]

We should live in tee-pee's and eat sorgham all day. And millet. Our clothes should be made out of twigs.

[hinckley buzzard]

Humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050

I notice this psychotic stooge was yammering in Peking. He should stay there. The Chinese deserve him.

[ClaireSolt]

Don't forget about hemp. sarc/

[knarf]

Pure, utter Bull$h!T !!!!!

[caisson71]

According to "studies" done by these mental giants, the world has ended several times already. Now, it's 2050? Nuts!!

[bruinbirdman]

"Well, it seems like the simple answer is just to eject the Muslims from the planet."

I think these guys were talking about ChiComs (article from Peking). But we could do without both of them.

yitbos

[hinckley buzzard]

Well, common sense tells you that there is only so much land for vegetation and raising cows. At some point we will reach saturation.

At current trends population will level out and start to decline well before reaching any hypothetical saturation point. The WWF is a decade behind the times, but then their purpose is not scientific prediction but leftwing demogoguery. Facts mean little compared to The Cause.