Global Burn-Out: We Can't Go On Like This

by max blunt at 02:49PM (CEST) on April 12, 2007
The fundamental cause of the big global problems threatening us now is simply over-consumption.

The rate at which we in rich countries are using up resources is grossly unsustainable.

It's far beyond levels that can be kept up for long or that could be spread to all people. Yet most people totally fail to grasp the magnitude.

The reductions required are so big that they cannot be achieved within a consumer capitalist society. Huge and extremely radical changes to systems and culture are necessary.

The per capita area of productive land needed to supply one Australian with food, water, settlements and energy, is about seven to eight hectares. The United States figure is closer to 12 hectares.

But the average per capita area of productive land available on the planet is only about 1.3 hectares.

When the world population reaches 9 billion, the per capita area of productive land available will be only 0.8 hectares.

In other words, in a world in which resources were shared equally, we would all have to get by on about 10 per cent of the present average for Australians.

The greenhouse problem is the most powerful and alarming illustration of the overshoot.

The scientists are telling us that if we are to stop the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere from reaching twice the pre-industrial level, we must cut global carbon emissions and thus fossil fuel use by 60 per cent in the short term, and more later. LINK