World ecosystems continue paying high price with globalization
With increased globalization, urbanization and growing prosperity,
the world's ecosystems continue to pay a high price as the toll has
never been greater, according to two United Nations reports released
here Thursday.
Coinciding with Thursday's kick-off of the two-week UN Commission on
Sustainable Development, the reports titled, "Trends in Sustainable
Development" found that while globalization has played a role in
shifting resource and energy-intensive production countries, it has not
contributed substantially in shrinking the global environmental impacts
with these activities.
One report focused on sustainable consumption and production and the
other on chemicals, mining, transport, and water management.
The reports highlighted three areas that are worrisome when looking
at the ecological footprint: biodiversity loss, interference with the
nitrogen cycle and climate change.
It cited that in 2005, industrialized countries only used 50 percent
of fossil energy, industrial materials and metallic ores with it
representing one-sixth of the world's population.
In the world's richest countries, the ecological footprint continues
to grow - mostly due to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions.
With the projected growth in population, income and wealth will put
an additional strain on resources over the course of 40 years, according
to the reports.
It also noted that if the rising middle classes of emerging economies
were to mimic the consumption patterns of wealthier countries, two
planets would be needed by 2040.
The reports come out as the Commission on Sustainable Development
starts it two-year cycle which concentrates on sustainable use and
management of resources.
The two-week UN Commission on Sustainable Development will review the
issues, problems and challenges and work to find possible solutions. It
runs from May 3 to 14.
The 2011 session is expected to look at more concrete policy
recommendations. Enditem UNITED NATIONS, May 6, Xinhua |