World enters ecological debt on Saturday 21 August 2010
21 August 2010
It has taken humanity less than nine months to blow its ecological budget for the year, according to data from leading independent UK think-tank nef (the new economics foundation) and Global Footprint Network, a California-based environmental research organization.
Ecological Debt Day comes a full month earlier than last year, reflecting not only greater consumption of resources on a global scale, despite the recession, but also improvements in data collection giving a more detailed analysis than ever before. The new research, for example, indicates that the world has less grazing land available than previously estimated.
A major part of the UK’s ecological footprint originates from our over consumption of fossil fuels, typified by some of the more bizarre goods that are both imported and exported. Last year:
- We exported 131,000 tonnes of chewing gum to Spain and imported 125,00 tonnes back again.
- The UK exported 3,300 tonnes of soft toys to New Zealand, and then imported 2,400 tonnes back again.
- We exported 43,000 tonnes of toffee to France while at the same time importing 39,000 tonnes from the French.
Aniol Esteban, head of environmental economics at nef said: “Last month Europe used up its fish resources for the year, a prime example of how overconsumption is running out of control. The loss of natural assets like fish stocks, forests and biodiversity still counts as a positive contribution to Gross Domestic Product. Unless we can reverse this economic anomaly, and ensure overconsumption is counted as a negative on our GDP balance sheets, will not reverse this trend. It’s a bit like selling the family silver to pay your credit card bills and pretending your finances are fine.”
"If you spent your entire annual income in nine months, you would probably be extremely concerned," said Global Footprint Network President Mathis Wackernagel. "The situation is no less dire when it comes to our ecological budget. Climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, water and food shortages -- these are all clear signs that we can no longer finance our consumption on credit. Nature is foreclosing."
Andrew Simms, policy director at nef and deviser of the concept of ecological debt day said: "The banking crisis taught us the danger of a system that goads us to live beyond our means financially. A greater danger comes from a consumer culture and economic policy that pushes us to live beyond our means ecologically. From the 21st August, humanity will, in effect, start to overstretch and undermine its own life-support systems. While we tolerate huge changes to how we live in response to the crisis created by our reckless banking system, nothing is being done to prevent us going further into ecological debt. That's why we are calling for a 'Great Transition' to rebuild the economy, free us from the habits of over-consumption, and design a better system that can survive and thrive with the resources we have available."
Dr Victoria Johnson, researcher in climate change and energy at nef said: “Latest research by NASA shows that increased global warming shows no signs of slowing down. Each year new records are broken - whether it’s the largest iceberg breaking off Greenland, or increased incidences of extreme weather events around the globe. While no single event can be attributed to man-made climate change, it gives us a harrowing insight of things to come and how vulnerable many are. Climate change is a symptom of our over consumption and illustrates our callous disregard for the planet’s capacity to support us.
