Australia in top 5 for environmental exploitation
29 Oct 2008
Australian's exploitation of the environment is worse then ever, with the nation now boasting the fifth largest ecological footprint per capita in the world - up from sixth worst just two years ago - according to a major international report released today.
WWF's Living Planet Report, the organisation's biennial assessment of the state of the natural world, paints a bleak picture for Australia, showing declining wildlife, a continued reduction in natural resources and accelerating waste of remaining natural resources.
Each Australian uses more land and water per person than the UK, China, Russia and India and it now takes 7.81 hectares to maintain the lifestyle of each Australian - up from 6.76 hectares per person in 2006. Only the United Arab Emirates, USA, Kuwait and Denmark rated worse.
"We cannot ignore the dire picture this report paints for Australia if we continue to exploit our natural resources without any thought for the future," said Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia.
"We currently have the technology and capital to turn around our destructive excesses - the real question is, do we have the will?
"Industry and Government must take urgent action to preserve Australia's natural resources that remain," he said.
Australia's carbon emissions, along with its cropping and grazing practices are the largest contributors to our massive ecological footprint, together accounting for 86 per cent of the total.
The nation's water use is more than the global average and our agricultural industries use more water for production than any other industry sector in the country.
Australia's native species continue to decline at an alarming rate due to habitat loss and increased competition from feral animals and exotic plants. There has been a 24 per cent decline in mammals, a 13 per cent decline in birds and a six per cent decline in reptile species since white settlement.
According to Mr Bourne, preserving our environment is vital to maintain our economic prosperity. He said agri-businesses were already learning the hard way how exploitation of the environment could endanger the future viability of rural economies.
"The unfolding disaster in the Murray-Darling Basin shows what happens when we continue to overdraw on the environment," said Mr Bourne.
He outlined that industries with an eye on sustainability would be the only winners in future and offered
Australians the best chance of maintaining their high standard of living.
"The current financial crisis, like all those before it, will pass but the threats presented by global warming will continue to grow if we do nothing," said Mr Bourne said.
"We must act now to reduce our emissions by 25 per cent by 2020, so that our children and grandchildren won't pay a grim cost for the waste of this generation as it continues to overdraw on the environment.
Notes to editors
Key Australian statistics from the Living Planet Report
Australia's threatened species
- In Australia, 91 mammal species are listed as threatened and 27 are extinct. For birds the numbers are 108 threatened and 23 are extinct and even 53 reptile species are under threat.
- The key reasons for the loss of species are habitat loss, invasive alien species, over exploitation and pollution.
Biocapacity
- Australia has the fourth greatest biocapacity in the world. It is more than 150 per cent greater than the amount we currently use.
- However, this ecological asset declines every year and if there is no alteration in the current trends Australians will be using more than we have in around 50 years.
Water Footprint
- Our water footprint of 1.39 million litres used by each person every year is higher than the world average of 1.24 million litres per person per year.
- Most of our water is used in agriculture. Australia has the 22nd highest use of water for production in the world and 15th for use in agriculture.
For more information
Alvin Stone, WWF-Australia Press Office.
Phone: 02 8202 1259 or mobile 0410 221 068
Download
WWF Living Planet Report 2008
WWF's biennial assessment of the state of the natural world.
