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By 2030, We Will Need of Two Planets’ Capacity to Satisfy Our Needs For Natural Resources

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:59:19 +0000

“Ecological credit crunch” is far worse than the current financial crisis, due to the over-using of natural resources of the planet by humans, an international study, The 2010 Living Planet report warned. Humans are using 30% more resources than the Earth can restock each year. This is leading to polluted water and air, deforestation, degraded soils, and a dramatic decline in numbers of fish and other species. Overall, this has contributed to a major decline in the world’s biodiversity. At this rate, by 2030 we will need the capacity of two planets’ potential to satisfy our needs for natural resources.

Interestingly, the United States and China account for 42% of the planets ecological footprint. According to the 2010 Living Planet Report, the world’s wealthier countries have being depleting the Earth resources at a faster rate than their poorer counterparts; the largest losses of natural resources have occurred in the developing world while wealthier nations have heal steady or increased their resources.

Title: World is facing a natural resources crisis worse than financial crunch

Author: Juliette Jowit

Publication gurdian.co.uk, 29 October 2008

URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/29/climatechangeendangeredhabitats

Student Researcher : Pedro Perez, Sonoma State University

Faculty Evaluator: Forest Andrew Deseran, Sonoma State UniversitySimilar Posts:

Internet’s Expanding Carbon Footprint

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:35:30 +0000

The internet’s increasing appetite for electricity poses a major threat to not only companies such as google and the future of internet use, but is also having a negative impact on the environment. “In an energy constrained world, we cannot continue to grow the footprint of the internet…we need to rein in the energy consumption” (Suodh Bata, Vice President at Sun Microsystems). With more than 1.5 billion people online around the world, scientists estimate that the energy footprint of the net is growing by more than 10% each year. This leaves many internet companies in a bind: energy costs are escalating because of increasing popularity, while at the same time advertising revenues come under pressure from the recession. Thisdouble bind poses a problem for internet companies affording enough energy to meet consumer demand; and while the demand for electricity is a primary concern, a secondary issue as a result of the explosion of internet use, is the computer industry’s carbon debt, which is increasing drastically. From having a relatively small impact just a few years ago, it is now leapfrogging other sectors like the airline industry that are more widely known for their negative environmental impact. It is apparent, that the demand for internet access far exceeds the readily available amount of energy available.

Title: Web Providers Must Limit Internet’s Carbon Footprint, Say Experts”

Author Bobbie Johnson,

Source: San Francisco Guardian News Media Limited. May 3, 2009

http://guardian.co.Ku

Student Researcher: Anne Cozza

Faculty Evaluator: Buzz Kellogg
Sonoma State UniversitySimilar Posts: