As global financial markets learn difficult lessons on the consequences of unregulated spending, a new report issued by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warns of the danger to future prosperity if the reckless over-consumption of the Earth's natural capital is left unchecked.
WWF's Living Planet Report 2008, produced with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network (GFN), shows more than three quarters of the world's people now living in nations that are ecological debtors, where national consumption has outstripped their country's biological capacity. Presently, human demands on the world's natural capital measure nearly a third more than earth can sustain. In addition, global natural wealth and diversity continue to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Crisis could shift focus to environment
The financial crisis and its aftermath could help set the stage for the transformative changes urgently needed to help the planet sustain life, a distinguished U.S. environmentalist said yesterday.
The meltdown of financial markets galvanized governments and a concerned public watched as they acted in concert, adjusting their policies in response to emerging leadership, James Gustave (Gus) Speth said in an interview.
"The central role of government in regulating the economy and protecting people has certainly been confirmed - and dramatically confirmed - during this crisis," said the dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University.
The meltdown of financial markets galvanized governments and a concerned public watched as they acted in concert, adjusting their policies in response to emerging leadership, James Gustave (Gus) Speth said in an interview.
"The central role of government in regulating the economy and protecting people has certainly been confirmed - and dramatically confirmed - during this crisis," said the dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Economy Versus the Environment
Environmentalists are often accused — not always unfairly — of overplaying the fear card. With apocalyptic references to melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels and widespread species extinction, the driving message of environmentalism is that the future is doomed, unless we act now to save it.
But what happens when another more alarming, more immediate catastrophe co-opts people's fear? That's the predicament greens find themselves in now, with what is potentially the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression scaring Americans out of their wits. With the tanking economy dominating the news, and the government willing to virtually bankrupt itself to bail out the financial sector, it could be hard to push the climate change agenda — and possibly hard to find any money left to support it. "If this crisis consumes all of our attention, it might definitely impact the speed at which [global warming] legislation could be passed," says Wiley Barbour, the founder of the American Carbon Registry. (Listen to Barbour talk about the effect that the financial crisis will have on global warming action on this week's Greencast.)
But what happens when another more alarming, more immediate catastrophe co-opts people's fear? That's the predicament greens find themselves in now, with what is potentially the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression scaring Americans out of their wits. With the tanking economy dominating the news, and the government willing to virtually bankrupt itself to bail out the financial sector, it could be hard to push the climate change agenda — and possibly hard to find any money left to support it. "If this crisis consumes all of our attention, it might definitely impact the speed at which [global warming] legislation could be passed," says Wiley Barbour, the founder of the American Carbon Registry. (Listen to Barbour talk about the effect that the financial crisis will have on global warming action on this week's Greencast.)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Millstone makes deal with environmental groups
Two environmental groups say they have reached an agreement with the state and the Millstone nuclear power complex in Waterford to speed up plans to reduce the plant's effect on Long Island Sound.
At issue is whether Millstone will install a water recycling system that would reduce the amount of water the plant pulls out of Long Island Sound to cool its reactors.
The Connecticut Fund for the Environment says Millstone now pumps more than 2 billion gallons out of the sound every day in a process that kills billions of fish and other sea creatures. The group says a recycling system would reduce the fish kill by up to 98 percent.
Millstone, the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Soundkeeper Incorporated and the state agreed Monday to speed up the process for updating Millstone's water discharge permit. Environmental activists say the deal will reduce what could have been a 15-year process to three years.
At issue is whether Millstone will install a water recycling system that would reduce the amount of water the plant pulls out of Long Island Sound to cool its reactors.
The Connecticut Fund for the Environment says Millstone now pumps more than 2 billion gallons out of the sound every day in a process that kills billions of fish and other sea creatures. The group says a recycling system would reduce the fish kill by up to 98 percent.
Millstone, the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Soundkeeper Incorporated and the state agreed Monday to speed up the process for updating Millstone's water discharge permit. Environmental activists say the deal will reduce what could have been a 15-year process to three years.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
nland rejects pipeline environment plan
HELSINKI, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Finland is not satisfied with Nord Stream's plans for an environmental assessment of its planned gas pipeline project, Finnish national broadcaster Yle said on Friday.
"Finland does not approve Nord Stream's assessment plans for the gas pipeline project's environmental risks," Yle said on its website, citing sources. "Finland wants the Gulf of Finland to be examined as one ecological entity."
But Nord Stream said the company has not received any strong criticism. "Finland proposed some changes," A Nord Stream spokesman said. "These changes would not be different from what we have planned to deliver for Finland to assess."
"Finland does not approve Nord Stream's assessment plans for the gas pipeline project's environmental risks," Yle said on its website, citing sources. "Finland wants the Gulf of Finland to be examined as one ecological entity."
But Nord Stream said the company has not received any strong criticism. "Finland proposed some changes," A Nord Stream spokesman said. "These changes would not be different from what we have planned to deliver for Finland to assess."
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