April 22nd 2009 is Earth Day. The objective is to highlight the importance of altering our way of life in the interests of the survival of the planet and its ability to support the range of diverse life forms which it does today. From the WWF website:

We’ve reached a critical moment in the history of the Earth and it’s Time for Change. In the 50 days leading up to Earth Day 2009, we will be asking all people to help World Wildlife Fund protect the future of nature by pledging to make change.

Is this just scare mongering? Is there a real threat to the Earth’s ecosystems and their ability to support the diverse range of living organisms that it does today? In 2008 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its Living Planet Report which attempts to quantify Humankind’s demand on the Earth’s resources and calculated what is sustainable based on the Earth regenerative capacity and Human activities. The results are alarming.  The report states:

Whether we live on the edge of the forest or in the heart of the city, our livelihoods and indeed our lives depend on the services provided by the Earth’s natural systems. The Living Planet Report 2008 tells us that we are consuming the resources that underpin those services much too fast – faster than they can be replenished. Just as reckless spending is causing recession, so reckless consumption is depleting the world’s natural capital to a point where we are endangering our future prosperity. The Living Planet Index shows that over the past 35 years alone the Earth’s wildlife populations have declined by a third.

By using measures such as Humankind’s demand on fresh water resources and land area for food, our “Ecological Footprint” was calculated.  

The Earth’s ability to support life is then established by calculating factors such as fresh water replenishment rates and soil nutrient cycling rates. Humanity’s impact on this in the form of pollution,  habitat loss and climate change etc is also factored in.

The results are alarming. On the one hand, Humanity’s demand on the Earth’s resources is increasing while, due to our actions, the ability of the Earth to support life is decreasing. Both these trends are illustrated below.

The Earth's ability support life relative to 1970 levels`

Humanity's ecological footprint relative to Earth's sustainable capacity

 

The top graph shows the “Living Planet Index” which represents the Earth’s ability to support life relative to 1970 levels. It can be seen clearly that this has been been decreasing steadily for the last two decades. The second, bottom graph shows Humanity’s demand on the Earth’s resources, such as fresh water and soil nutrients. The horizontal green line is the Earth’s regenerative capacity. It can be seen that as of 2005, we have been using the Earth’s resources 30% faster than they can be replenished. The consequences of inaction are obvious - shortages in the basic resources and services to support life.

 

So surely the objectives of WWF Earth Day are worthwhile. There is no escaping the fact that Human behaviour must change if the Earth is to retain its ability to support the enormous diversity of life that it does today.

The Living Planet Report can be downloaded here.

To celebrate WWF Earth Day on April 22nd, Soft and Cuddly is offering a 10% discount off their brand new Eco-Plush range with products from the Aurora Naturally range by Aurora World and the Eco Mouse by Happy Horse. Also, there is now 10% off all WWF plush animals.

For more information on WWF and how to help, please visit http://www.worldwildlife.org/

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Jody Eco Issues climate change, earth day, environment, soft toys, wwf