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The latest Global Environment Outlook report from the United Nations, to be quite frank, is looking grim for the human race. While it is true that economy and trade is increasing and the living standards for many people are getting better, the UN maintains that there are a lot of problems we need to face sooner rather than later.
Some of these problems include climate change, pollution, access to clean water, and the threat of mass extinctions. The part of UN that came up with the report even remarked that these problems are being met with a "remarkable lack of urgency". Here are other points raised by UN:
- Over
the last 20 years, the human population has increased by a third,
global trade has tripled, and per capita income has gone up by 40%.
Annual emissions of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, have also
increased by one third.
- As
the human population grows, it has reached the point where the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is
available.
- Sixteen
thousand species are threatened with extinction. Habitat loss is a
major factor as many forests are cleared for agriculture. The UN
estimates the global annual loss of primary forest is 50,000 km2.
- The availability of fresh water will decline. By 2025 1.8bn people will be affected by
water scarcity.
- Sanitation is also a major issue, as contaminated water
is the greatest single cause of human disease and death.
- Many
fish stocks are over-exploited, while the demand for fish is expected to
rise alongside growing populations.
- By the end of 2007 it is estimated that more people will
live in cities than rural areas for the first time in history. his rapid growth
can put pressure on water resources and infrastructure.
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