Earth has suffered irreversible damage: study

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
0
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1112197299985_10/?hub=World
Humans are damaging the Earth at such an unprecedented rate that the strain on the planet may destroy about two-thirds of its ecosystem services, according to a landmark international study.

The consequences of humans' activities are severe and include: new diseases, sudden changes in water quality, creation of "dead zones" along the coasts, the collapse of fisheries, and shifts in regional climate, according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report.

"At the heart of this assessment is a stark warning," said the 45-member board.

"Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted," it said.

The four-year, 2,500-page assessment was drawn up by 1,300 researchers from 95 nations in an effort to inform global policy initiatives.

Scientists warn that about 60 per cent of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth, such as fresh water, air and water regulation and natural hazards, are being destroyed.

The report warns that the consequences of this degradation of the environment will significantly worsen over the next 50 years.


"Any progress achieved in addressing the goals of poverty and hunger eradication, improved health, and environmental protection is unlikely to be sustained if most of the ecosystem services on which humanity relies continue to be degraded," said the study.

The report says humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the past 50 years than any other period.

"This was done largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel," a statement said, adding that this resulted in an irreversible loss of life on Earth, with some 10 to 30 per cent of mammal, bird and amphibian species threatened with extinction currently.

The changes in the ecosystem are owing to humans' efforts to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel, the report says.

"More land was converted to agriculture since 1945 than in the 18th and 19th centuries combined," according to the report's authors.

"More than half of all the synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, first made in 1913, ever used on the planet has been used since 1985."

And the current state of affairs is likely to be an obstacle to meeting the Millennium Development Goals agreed to by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000, the report says.

"The over-riding conclusion of this assessment is that it lies within the power of human societies to ease the strains we are putting on the nature services of the planet, while continuing to use them to bring better living standards to all," said the MA board of directors in a statement.

"Achieving this, however, will require radical changes in the way nature is treated at every level of decision-making and new ways of cooperation between government, business and civil society. The warning signs are there for all of us to see. The future now lies in our hands."

In a message launching the reports, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said the environment can only be protected by understanding how it works.

"Only by valuing all our precious natural and human resources can we hope to build a sustainable future," Annan said.

Other warnings:

-Deforestation influences the abundance of human pathogens such as malaria and cholera

-Scientists project there will be progress in eliminating hunger but at rates too slow to halve the number of the hungry by 2015.

-It is the world's poorest people who suffer the most from changes to the ecosystem.

-Only four ecosystem services have been improved in the past half-century. These include: increased crop, livestock and aquaculture production, and increased carbon sequestration for worldwide climate regulation.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment's work was prepared under the supervision of a 45-member board of directors, co-chaired by Dr. Robert Watson, chief scientist of The World Bank, and Dr. A. Hamid Zakri, director of the United Nations University's Institute of Advanced Studies.
Are we soon to see mandatory recycling? That would be fine by me. I think recycling is a necessity at this point.

Also, I feel the lack of regulation on industries to be eco-friendly are another large strain on our resources (esp. air and water quality) As long as governments around the world allow corporations to rape and pollute the environment, there will be continued harm to it.

But, are industries just trying to feed rampant consumerism or are consumers being brow-beat by advertising and falling into the trap of material goods?

One way or another we can't keep going at this pace.
 

Stunt

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2002
9,717
2
0
The sooner we see oil prices rise, the sooner renewable/cleaner energy sources can be utilized - this will significantly reduce pollution, global warming, smog and the like.
It just isn't economically feasible to implement these technologies. If we switch over prematurely we will take a significant economic hit in the short term with no benifit as the reduced load on oil will lower prices for the third world (today's manufacturing base) to consume at an even faster rate.

But i agree with your premise. We should limit our impact on the global ecosystem. I like to think we are doing as much as we can. I mean the primary goal of mankind is not to detroy for the sake of destroying.

The article itself comments on the transition to a more productive farming industry...converting farms and using fertilizers. This is needed to sustain life on the planet. We cannot feed ourselves with out GM foods or fertillizers. Imagine the damage if these techniques were not used....10 times more land would be needed and many times more energy.

You have to take that into account when criticizing the agriculture industry.
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
we had our own, far less intelligent thread on this in OT :)

for those who care.
 

Stunt

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2002
9,717
2
0
Originally posted by: dug777
we had our own, far less intelligent thread on this in OT :)

for those who care.
What can we say...us P&Ners are elitest.
Link to the discussion?...and how bad is it? :)

PS. I like how you say this thread is more intelligent based on the OP, my comment, the standard dave pessimistic joke, and a joke rebuttal ;)
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0

Tylanner

Diamond Member
Sep 18, 2004
5,481
2
81
I honestly believe that something else will wipe out the Human Race way before the Earth becomes inhabitable.

But we have reached that point in our "evolution" where we are able to care for the Earth, think about the future, and maybe even turn things around.

Any change/regulations are sure to be miniscule, slow to action, and very poorly enforced...

Overall, it's not looking good for the 3rd rock from the sun....but we always have the 4th rock :p


 

mordantmonkey

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,075
5
0
the problem with nitrogen based fertilizers is that it dirupts the natural nitrogen cycle that has existed for hundreds of thousands of years. Instead of waiting for nitrogen to be fixed into the soil naturally, we are using chemistry to "suck" it out of the air in unnatural proportions. Possibly the ecosystem can evolve and cope with it. More likely than not we will need to start using other methods to replenish the nutrients in the soil, but we will have a problem feeding all these people without nitrogen fertilizers.
 

Stunt

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2002
9,717
2
0
Why the 4th rock...you realize that women aren't actually from venus right ;)
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
But we have reached that point in our "evolution" where we are able to care for the Earth, think about the future, and maybe even turn things around.
No, we're reached the point where some people, on an individual basis, are able to care, but they can't fight the masses of those who do not care. We continue to abuse and overuse, even when the effects of that abuse are _right in front of our faces_. No, I'm not taking about the barely arguable problems to the environment now, but cases where economies have been brutalized by things like overfishing: the fishermen just continue to fish and then, when they realize that none are left, the industry falls apart. People cannot preserve.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
irreversible? BS the earth recyles it's crust about every 30 billion years. In 30 billion years all you'll find is maybe a couple hundred fossils of what were once humans. It'll be just like pre-civ days again..plenty of oil...uranium..all new species etc.

Problem is I won't be around in 30 billion years. Whats imporatant now in my quality of life, air, water now which is getting poorer w/o responsible managment.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
29,725
42,785
136
I honestly believe that something else will wipe out the Human Race way before the Earth becomes inhabitable.


Shouldn't that be, un-inhabitable? :confused:



 

robertcloud

Banned
Oct 23, 2004
218
0
0
Originally posted by: Zebo
irreversible? BS the earth recyles it's crust about every 30 billion years. In 30 billion years all you'll find is maybe a couple hundred fossils of what were once humans. It'll be just like pre-civ days again..plenty of oil...uranium..all new species etc.

Problem is I won't be around in 30 billion years. Whats imporatant now in my quality of life, air, water now which is getting poorer w/o responsible managment.

Im sure you are being sarcastic, but to clear things up, you do know the earth hasn't been around for 30,000,000,000 years.

Try more like 4,000 ;)
 

slurmsmackenzie

Golden Member
Jun 4, 2004
1,413
0
0
"irreversible loss of life on Earth, with some 10 to 30 per cent of mammal, bird and amphibian species threatened with extinction currently."

holy sh!t....

there's 4 billion years evolution down the drain.
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: slurmsmackenzie
"irreversible loss of life on Earth, with some 10 to 30 per cent of mammal, bird and amphibian species threatened with extinction currently."

holy sh!t....

there's 4 billion years evolution down the drain.

Only if you believe in Evolution.

God is just cleansing the planet and will start over.


 

Insomniak

Banned
Sep 11, 2003
4,836
0
0
I hate people who think the environment is being "hurt".


The Planet is not going anywhere folks - WE are. Frankly, it's just another cycle in the planet's development. Nature is not static - it is constantly changing. If the Earth wants us gone, there won't be a thing we can do about it.

Looks like we might beat her to the punch though.
 

Insomniak

Banned
Sep 11, 2003
4,836
0
0
Originally posted by: Tylanner
But we have reached that point in our "evolution" where we are able to care for the Earth, think about the future, and maybe even turn things around.


That's the most ridiculous, arrogant statement I've seen in years.
 

Insomniak

Banned
Sep 11, 2003
4,836
0
0
Originally posted by: Zebo
irreversible? BS the earth recyles it's crust about every 30 billion years. In 30 billion years all you'll find is maybe a couple hundred fossils of what were once humans. It'll be just like pre-civ days again..plenty of oil...uranium..all new species etc.

Problem is I won't be around in 30 billion years. Whats imporatant now in my quality of life, air, water now which is getting poorer w/o responsible managment.



Considering modern science places the age of this planet in the neighborhood of 4.5 billion years, I would love to know where you got those figures.
 

Proletariat

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2004
5,614
0
0
i'm ahead, i'm advanced...
i'm the first mammal to wear pants, yeah
i'm at peace, with my lust
i can kill 'cause in god i trust, yeah
it's evolution baby
i'm at peace, i'm the man
having stocks on the day of the crash, yeah
on the loose, i'm a truck
all the rolling hills, i flatten 'em out, yeah
it's herd behavior, uh huh
it's evolution baby
admire me, admire my home
admire my son, he's my clone
yeah, yeah,
this land is mine, this land is free
i'll do what i want, but irresponsibly
it's evolution baby
i'm a thief, i'm a liar
there's my church, i sing in the choir
hallelujah...
hallelujah...
admire me, admire my home
admire my son, admire my clones
casino..
appetite, for a nightly feast
those ignorant indians got nothing on me
nothing... why? because...
it's evolution baby
i am ahead, i am advanced
i am the first mammal to make plans, yeah
i crawled the earth, but now i'm higher
2010 watch it go to fire
it's evolution baby
it's evolution baby
do the evolution
come on
come one come on
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,651
100
91
And the rate of destruction will continue, but more scary, the rate of acceleration of the destruction will continue.
 

dornick

Senior member
Jan 30, 2005
751
0
0
Just curious, is there anyone who thinks we should be preserving the environment for any other reason than for our benefit?