Humanity taking Earth's resources 50% faster than Earth can replace them!

[alhoon]

Very bad news about the future of our planet.

http://news.yahoo.com/report-global-...000930009.html

"As of 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, humans were outstripping Earth's biocapacity by 50 percent. Biocapacity is the amount of renewable resources, land, and waste absorption (such as sinks for carbon dioxide) the Earth can provide. In other words, it takes the planet 1.5 years to restore what humanity burns through in a year. "

And almost as important:
"The world's biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit"
That means that we've killed off 30% of all the species that were around in the 70s.

While we're struggling with the economy, we've started again ignoring facts like this. Our goverments should take large steps towards renewable energy and conservation. By what right we killed off 30% of the species? Just because we're technologically advanced.

The top 10 resource users/ capita are

1. Qatar
2. Kuwait
3. United Arab Emirates
4. Denmark
5. United States
6. Belgium
7. Australia
8. Canada
9. The Netherlands
10. Ireland

If you add the population of these countries together, there's nearly half a billion of resource strippers. Many of those countries are within the advanced Western society so they could implement enviromental reforms easier than others. I think it's about time they do.

[AqD]

but but but ..... some species must die no matter what, such as cockroaches

[Arbitrary Crusader]

but but but ..... some species must die no matter what, such as cockroaches

Have to agree.

Furthermore, It is my opinion that cockroaches must be destroyed

[Menelik_I]

Very bad news about the future of our planet.

http://news.yahoo.com/report-global-...000930009.html

"As of 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, humans were outstripping Earth's biocapacity by 50 percent. Biocapacity is the amount of renewable resources, land, and waste absorption (such as sinks for carbon dioxide) the Earth can provide. In other words, it takes the planet 1.5 years to restore what humanity burns through in a year. "

And almost as important:
"The world's biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit"
That means that we've killed off 30% of all the species that were around in the 70s.

While we're struggling with the economy, we've started again ignoring facts like this. Our goverments should take large steps towards renewable energy and conservation. By what right we killed off 30% of the species? Just because we're technologically advanced.

The top 10 resource users/ capita are

1. Qatar
2. Kuwait
3. United Arab Emirates
4. Denmark
5. United States
6. Belgium
7. Australia
8. Canada
9. The Netherlands
10. Ireland

If you add the population of these countries together, there's nearly half a billion of resource strippers. Many of those countries are within the advanced Western society so they could implement enviromental reforms easier than others. I think it's about time they do.

Non issue, the the disparate data points in the article makes for good ecological feel good, but it doesn't make any sense.

- Biodiversity.

Consumption in rich countries have nothing to do with biodiversity, because more biodiversity is lost in poor countries and the cost of life is such that please the greenies is not a priority.

- Consumption rate.

Nonsense measuring method, especially if you get values below 500 years, which is the minimum in most process at the geological scale. So saying that ''it takes the planet 1.5 years to restore what humanity burns through in a year''.

And even if were true, much of the planet surface (Oceans + Antarctica) is barely exploited for geological resources or other uses, so humanity is hardly exhausting the planet.

But what if the exhausting the resources ?

Then there is nothing to do about it, and like I tell people who believe in peak oil, no matter why they say or do, when oil is going to run out then only thing that will happen is for energy price to rise to the level of the next cheapest alternative available.

So no amount of crying about coal, copper, or oil will change this simple fact of reality.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Then there is nothing to do about it, and like I tell people who believe in peak oil, no matter why they say or do, when oil is going to run out then only thing that will happen is for energy price to rise to the level of the next cheapest alternative available.

So no amount of crying about coal, copper, or oil will change this simple fact of reality.

So dont worry about Oil running out because people can still drive like crazy because someone will find an alternative resource?

[Treize]

If all the people on earth would live like us we would need 3.5 earths.

Me gusta.

In a few 100 years we will be able to mine asteroids and colonise other planets anyway.
Burning oil? Who gives a ? In a few decades we will be using nuclear fusion for power and maybe hydrogen and stuff as well.

[alhoon]

In a few 100 years we will be able to mine asteroids and colonise other planets anyway.

Or we would live in a desolate wasteland with barely any resources left.

Burning oil? Who gives a ? In a few decades we will be using nuclear fusion for power and maybe hydrogen and stuff as well.

... as our parents were telling us a few decades ago, and since we're not that closer to realization of nuclear fusion for energy, and using hydrogen for power has hit roadblocks too.

Mortgaging the future; though oil and coal are renewable commodities, after a couple of eons of fermentation.

They need thousands of years.

[Prosaic Visitant]

Or we would live in a desolate wasteland with barely any resources left.

Glass half empty kind guy, are we?

... as our parents were telling us a few decades ago, and since we're not that closer to realization of nuclear fusion for energy, and using hydrogen for power has hit roadblocks too.

And yet the trend towards non-fossil fuels continues.

It's all cool, world's supposed to end this year anyway so we may as well use up as many resources as we can

What could possibly go wrong?

[Condottiere 40K]

Mortgaging the future; though oil and coal are renewable commodities, after a couple of eons of fermentation.

[Sphere]

[Surgeon]

It's all cool, world's supposed to end this year anyway so we may as well use up as many resources as we can

[Col. Tartleton]

It's all cool, world's supposed to end this year anyway so we may as well use up as many resources as we can

If the world doesn't end this year I promise to be in favor of building mile high sustainable energy arcologies.

Or even better we harvest the asteroid belt with huge refineries on the moon and build orbital cities and oceans of solar panels.

Western nations will reach a sustainable population growth while absorbing immigrants, its no issue that we have a low population rate.

The cultural changes are problematic.

[Plan C]

Meh, we're not doing any damage to the planet. The planet ain't going anywhere. It's the humans who lose out here, we're only really doing it to ourselves. Once we're gone the earth will carry another millions of species until it is finally consumed by the sun. No biggie.

[Denny Crane!]

Population reduction, birth control has a strong correlative trend with improved womens rights and improved economies. Its all about the choice.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

Population reduction, birth control has a strong correlative trend with improved womens rights and improved economies. Its all about the choice.

But I think we must emphasize that population reduction is not needed in Western Europe or America.

[Prosaic Visitant]

But I think we must emphasize that population reduction is not needed in Western Europe or America.

Western population would shrink without immigration. Just saying. Same for Japan and South Korea.

[Denny Crane!]

But I think we must emphasize that population reduction is not needed in Western Europe or America.

thats fine.

[JP226]

how exactly do you calculate 50% faster than "Earth" being able to replace?

[SLN445]

Western nations will reach a sustainable population growth while absorbing immigrants, its no issue that we have a low population rate.

[Prosaic Visitant]

Western nations will reach a sustainable population growth while absorbing immigrants, its no issue that we have a low population rate.

How? I thought 2.1 births per woman was the magic number for developed countries, yet all are below.