US consumers found to have huge ecological appetite

Europe News.Net
Tuesday 24th November, 2009

A report issued by Global Footprint Network, an international think tank, has said the world's population each year uses resources equivalent to nearly one-and-a-half times what the Earth has to offer.

In meeting our needs, the report says, we are demanding nature's services, using resources and creating CO2 emissions, at a rate 44 percent faster than what nature can regenerate and reabsorb.

The report has confirmed the level of ecological spending may cause major ecosystem collapse, especially if humankind continues to use natural resources and produce waste at the current rate.

Global Footprint Network has calculated the earth will require the resources of two planets to meet world demands by the early 2030's.

The report is based on how many resources the planet has, how much humans use, and who has been using the resources.

The most prolific users are the Americans with an ecological footprint of nine global hectares or 23 acres.

The average European's footprint is half that size.

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