ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE SEMINAR SERIES

Abstract

The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world's natural capital reach nearly a third more than earth can sustain.

That is the stark warning contained in the latest edition of WWF’s Living Planet Report, the leading statement of the planet’s health. In addition global natural wealth and diversity continues to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.

The report, produced with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network (GFN), shows more than three quarters of the world’s people now living in nations that are ecological debtors, where national consumption has outstripped their country’s biological capacity.

The report, published every two years, has since 1998 become widely accepted as a statement of earth's ability to remain a “living planet”. In 2008, it adds for the first time new measures of global, national and individual water footprint to existing measures of the Ecological Footprint of human demand on natural resources and the Living Planet Index, a measure of the state of nature.

The report suggests some key “sustainability wedges” which if combined could stabilise and reverse the worsening slide into ecological debt and enduring damage to global support systems. For the single most important challenge — climate change – the report shows that a range of efficiency, renewable and low emissions “wedges” could meet projected energy demands to 2050 with reductions in carbon emissions of 60 to 80 per cent.

Dr Chris Hails, Editor-in-Chief of the Living Planet Report, WWF-International Director of Network Relations and Chairman of WWF-Singapore board, will share with the audience the key findings of the report and discuss how humanity can close the gap between humanity’s footprint and available biocapacity.

Speaker

Chris Hails is a British biologist trained at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He worked as a lecturer in Zoology and Ecology at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur from 1976 to 1983, and as an environmental advisor to the Ministry of National Development in Singapore from 1983 to 1988.

He joined WWF in 1988 was Global Programme Director from 1995 until 2007.  He now works in the Director-General's office where he is responsible for the network and international relations.

About WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature):
Over 40 years ago, WWF was born into a world increasingly recognizing the folly of its ways and the devastating impact that humans were having on wildlife, habitat and the environment.

Since those early days, WWF has grown in size and stature into a world leader in protecting the world’s natural environment. It is a global organization built on understanding the complex relationships between human endeavour and the natural resources — earth, air and water — that sustain all life on earth.  WWF is not just about saving species — it is about people.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future in which human live in harmony with nature by:
•        Conserving the world's biological diversity;
•        Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable;
•        Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Today, WWF runs over 2,000 conservation programmes around the world addressing issues related to climate change, forest, freshwater, endangered species, marine, community development and sustainable business practices.
WWF has been present in Asia Pacific since 1962. It opened its office in Singapore in 2006.

For more information visit www.panda.org or www.wwf.sg

You are cordially invited to the Seminar.

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