Earth cannot support the growing demands made on it. Humans have destroyed more than 30 per cent of the natural world since 1970 with serious depletion of the forest, fresh water and marine systems on which life depends.
Consumption pressure from increasing affluence has doubled in the past 25 years and continues to accelerate. Time is running out for us to change the way we live if we are to leave future generations a living planet.
One of the most serious problems revealed is the depletion of freshwater resources with half of the accessible supplies being used by humans which is double the amount of 1960. The rate of decline of freshwater eco-systems is running at 6 per cent a year, threatening to dry up many wetlands, and push the species of those habitats to extinction. Governments should increase the efficiency of their water use, and stop wasteful irrigation schemes where water losses are highest.
The environmental problems of acid rain, the greenhouse effect, deforestation, air, water and soil pollution have become global. Carbon dioxide emissions have doubled in the same period, and, being far in excess of the natural world's ability to absorb them, are accelerating global warming.
Global consumption of wood and paper has increased bó two-thirds, and most forests are managed unsustainably. In the same period, marine fish consumption has also more than doubled, and most of the world's fish resources are either fully exploited or in decline.
Although Western countries have high consumption rates, some of the developing countries are depleting their natural resources at an alarming rate. The people of Taiwan, the United States and Singapore are singled out as the world's most voracious consumers, responsible for depleting the Earth's resources faster than other countries. Britain comes 41st on the list of more than 130 countries. As the world becomes economically richer, it becomes environmentally poorer.
Although a growing population is part of the problem, increased consumption has been the main problem. The average North American or Japanese consumes 10 times as much of the world's resources as the average Bangladeshi. Japan and Bangladesh have the same populations but have a vastly different effect on the world's eco-systems, particularly in timber and fish consumption.
The average North American resident consumes five times as much as an African and three times as much as an Asian. However, in total Asia takes more of the Earth's resources because there are 3.2 billion Asians compared with only 0.3 billion North Americans.
There is a serious decline in the health of the Earth's ecological balance sheet, which reflects our imprudent and inefficient use of natural resources. To restore its ecological health, we must ensure that our consumption and production of food, water, materials and energy are within the Earth's carrying capacity now, and in the future. People could help save the planet and save themselves money through energy efficiency, reducing waste, using water sparingly and not contaminating it, and by avoiding unnecessary trips in vehicles.
The conservation of natural ecosystems is not a luxury which only the rich can afford, but is essential to ensure the maintenance of the vital ecological functions of our planet upon which we all depend for our survival.