Posted on 20 August
2013 | Gland, Switzerland: 20 August is
Earth Overshoot Day – when humanity has
used as much renewable natural resources
as our planet can regenerate in one year.
For the rest of 2013, we are “in the red”
– effectively “overdrawn” on the balance
sheet of nature’s goods and services that
we require to survive.
Based on Ecological
Footprint data – measuring how much nature
we have, how much we use, and who uses what
– Earth Overshoot Day is an initiative of
WWF’s partner, the Global Footprint Network,
to raise awareness and inspire action around
ecological “overspending”.
Climate change is a
major impact of overshoot, as using fossil
fuels causes harmful emissions of carbon
dioxide that the planet simply cannot absorb.
Forests are shrinking, fish stocks are waning,
land is getting degraded, freshwater resources
are dwindling, and biological diversity
is depleting.
“Nature is the basis
of our wellbeing and our prosperity – but
we are using up way too much of the Earth's
finite resources.
"WWF's Living Planet
Report shows clearly that humanity's demands
exceed our planet's capacity to sustain
us – simply put, we are asking for more
than we have available,” said Jim Leape,
Director General of WWF International.
In 1961, the year WWF
was established, humanity was using two
thirds of the Earth’s available natural
resources and most countries had ecological
reserves – meaning our footprint was lighter
and more sustainable.
By taking action now
we can reverse the trend.
Switching to clean,
renewable, abundant energy sources like
sun and wind will slash dirty emissions
that strain our oceans and forests, and
pollute our air. Choosing sustainable goods
like seafood labelled with the Marine Stewardship
Council (MSC) blue tick, and wood that is
certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC) helps ensure products come from well
managed sources.
“More than 50 per cent
of humanity's Ecological Footprint is composed
of our carbon footprint, especially from
the burning of fossil fuels.
"WWF is currently
running a global campaign, Seize Your Power,
pressing for much greater investment in
renewable energies.
“For a clean and healthy future for our
children, we must preserve the natural capital
that is left – and be much better stewards
of the planet we call home,” said Leape.
+ More
Oil exploration threatens
Africa’s billion dollar World Heritage Site
Posted on 01 August
2013 | Africa’s oldest national park could
be worth US$1.1 billion per year if developed
sustainably, rather than being given over
to potentially-damaging oil extraction,
a report released by WWF today has found.
Virunga National Park
has the potential to generate 45,000 permanent
jobs through investments in hydropower,
the fishery industry and ecotourism, according
to analysis conducted by Dalberg Global
Development Advisors, an independent consulting
firm.
The Economic Value of
Virunga National Park says exploitation
of oil concessions, which have been allocated
across 85 per cent of the World Heritage
property, could bring pollution, cause instability
and cost people their jobs.
“Virunga represents
a valuable asset to Democratic Republic
of the Congo and contributes to Africa’s
heritage as the oldest and most biodiverse
park on the continent,” the report says.
“Plans to explore for oil and exploit oil
reserves put Virunga’s value at risk.”
In June, the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee called for the
cancelation of all Virunga oil permits and
appealed to concession holders Total SA
and Soco International PLC not to undertake
exploration in World Heritage Sites. Total
has committed to respecting Virunga’s current
boundary, leaving UK-based Soco as the only
oil company with plans to explore inside
the park.
“Virunga’s rich natural
resources are for the benefit of the Congolese
people, not for foreign oil prospectors
to drain away,” said Raymond Lumbuenamo,
Country Director for WWF-Democratic Republic
of the Congo. “Our country’s future depends
on sustainable economic development, and
the livelihoods of over 50,000 people depend
on this park. Oil extraction here could
have devastating consequences for local
communities that rely on Virunga for fish,
drinking water and their other needs.”
Oil spills, pipeline
leaks and gas flaring could contaminate
the air, water and soil in the area with
toxins, according to the report. It says
studies of other oil producing regions have
found that oil can cause health problems
and fuel conflict.
Environmental impacts
from oil extraction could threaten Virunga’s
freshwater ecosystems, rich forests and
rare wildlife, the study found. The park
is home to over 3,000 different kinds of
animals, including critically endangered
mountain gorillas.
“This is where we draw
the line. Oil companies are standing on
the doorstep of one of the world’s most
precious and fragile places, but we will
not rest until Virunga is safe from this
potential environmental disaster,” said
Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of
WWF International. “Virunga has snow fields
and lava fields, but it should not have
oil fields.”
Today WWF is launching
a campaign aimed at protecting Virunga National
Park from oil extraction. The organization
is calling on Soco to abandon its plans
to explore for oil in Virunga and all other
World Heritage Sites.
