News > Editorial Opinions
A Closer Look: Scientists say the world's resources are about tapped out
By TERRY MAXWELL/Arizona Range News
We are using the Earth to lead the good life, but our children and grandchildren will have to live in an environment that threatens their very existence, more than 1,300 scientists warn.
A concerned team of international experts concluded that the world is at risk in a number of fronts, including the ever-increasing runoff of farm waste destroying sections of the world's oceans, and an increasing wave of animal and plant extinctions that should tug at our sense of fairness and love of nature and its many wonders.
The study was commissioned by the United Nations and a number of corporations concerned about a warming planet that threatens the existence of some animals and birds throughout the world.
The study is based on evidence generally agreed upon by most scientists rather than the usual "he said, she said" variety, which doesn't carry much weight in the long term.
The scientists looked at 24 different services that the Earth's ecosystem gives people and found that an alarming 15 of them are in serious trouble and must be addressed now. Time is of the essence and a matter of long-term world survival.
The ability of the Earth's ecosystem to sustain and provide for future generations can no longer be taken for granted. Human activity, unending consumption, greed and ignorance is putting a horrific strain on the natural functions of Earth.
Oregon State University Zoology professor Jane Lubchenco said, "We have been utilizing resources and services assuming that they are free and will always be available."
World Bank chief scientist and study chairman Bob Watson hit the nail on the head when he said, "Unless mankind changes its ways, our consumption will undermine the very ability for these ecosystems to provide the goods and services we need."
With continuously increasing world population, it is only wishful thinking that mankind will change its ways and become more conscious of environmental forces. When world leaders finally awaken to the approaching pandemic, it may be too late to do anything about it.
A third of the world's population lives in dry land ecosystems, with only eight percent of the renewable water supply. In the next 50 years, these regions will probably be unable to keep up with the growing demand for water.
Unfortunately, over the next century, unless immediate steps are taken, we will probably observe a marked drop in a number of species. The report pointed out that 32 percent of amphibian species, 25 percent of mammals and 12 percent of birds are threatened by extinction in the next century.
Furthermore, the report suggests that even with more efficient farming techniques, soil conservation and a concentrated worldwide effort to mitigate pollution, millions of people will starve to death each year due to the world's inability to grow a sufficient food supply to keep up with population growth.
The threat of global warming is real and must be recognized by world nations that are poisoning the atmosphere in the pursuit of economic gain. The free enterprise system in America is responsible for industrial growth and an improved standard of living for millions of Americans, however it is polluting the environment at an alarming rate.
Individually, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to our grandchildren and the future of America as we know it today. If we don't voice our concerns to the state and federal government, you can be assured that pollution and global warming will stay on the back burner until it is too late to save future generations from multiple health problems, mass extinction of mammals, birds and amphibians and mass starvation throughout the world.
(Editor's Note: Terry Max-well can be reached by e-mail at terrancefntn@aol.com.)
A concerned team of international experts concluded that the world is at risk in a number of fronts, including the ever-increasing runoff of farm waste destroying sections of the world's oceans, and an increasing wave of animal and plant extinctions that should tug at our sense of fairness and love of nature and its many wonders.
The study was commissioned by the United Nations and a number of corporations concerned about a warming planet that threatens the existence of some animals and birds throughout the world.
The study is based on evidence generally agreed upon by most scientists rather than the usual "he said, she said" variety, which doesn't carry much weight in the long term.
The scientists looked at 24 different services that the Earth's ecosystem gives people and found that an alarming 15 of them are in serious trouble and must be addressed now. Time is of the essence and a matter of long-term world survival.
The ability of the Earth's ecosystem to sustain and provide for future generations can no longer be taken for granted. Human activity, unending consumption, greed and ignorance is putting a horrific strain on the natural functions of Earth.
Oregon State University Zoology professor Jane Lubchenco said, "We have been utilizing resources and services assuming that they are free and will always be available."
World Bank chief scientist and study chairman Bob Watson hit the nail on the head when he said, "Unless mankind changes its ways, our consumption will undermine the very ability for these ecosystems to provide the goods and services we need."
With continuously increasing world population, it is only wishful thinking that mankind will change its ways and become more conscious of environmental forces. When world leaders finally awaken to the approaching pandemic, it may be too late to do anything about it.
A third of the world's population lives in dry land ecosystems, with only eight percent of the renewable water supply. In the next 50 years, these regions will probably be unable to keep up with the growing demand for water.
Unfortunately, over the next century, unless immediate steps are taken, we will probably observe a marked drop in a number of species. The report pointed out that 32 percent of amphibian species, 25 percent of mammals and 12 percent of birds are threatened by extinction in the next century.
Furthermore, the report suggests that even with more efficient farming techniques, soil conservation and a concentrated worldwide effort to mitigate pollution, millions of people will starve to death each year due to the world's inability to grow a sufficient food supply to keep up with population growth.
The threat of global warming is real and must be recognized by world nations that are poisoning the atmosphere in the pursuit of economic gain. The free enterprise system in America is responsible for industrial growth and an improved standard of living for millions of Americans, however it is polluting the environment at an alarming rate.
Individually, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to our grandchildren and the future of America as we know it today. If we don't voice our concerns to the state and federal government, you can be assured that pollution and global warming will stay on the back burner until it is too late to save future generations from multiple health problems, mass extinction of mammals, birds and amphibians and mass starvation throughout the world.
(Editor's Note: Terry Max-well can be reached by e-mail at terrancefntn@aol.com.)
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