Living Planet Report Criticizes Canada

     The findings in the 2012 Living Planet Report, published by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), has found out that Canada has the 8th largest ecological footprint per capita in the World. The report, which was released Tuesday, is the world's leading analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity. The full document can be found on the WWF website or read here. The report, which is published once every two years, explains that more than half of Canada's footprint is the result of our carbon use, which is due to our increasing reliance on fossil fuel. The report went on to say that if the entire world lived like Canadians do, it would take 3.5 Earths to support the demand.

     According to a recent article posted by CBC News the report also warned that "global demand on natural resources has doubled since 1966, and that "high-income" countries have a footprint five times greater than low-income countries." The WWF says that the demand for natural resources has become so drastic that it has become "unsustainable" and is putting extraordinary pressure on the planet's ecosystem. "We are living as if we have an extra planet at our disposal," said Jim Leape, the International Director for the WWF.

Qatar was named as the country with the largest ecological footprint, followed by Kuwait and the UAE. (Reuters)

     Some other facts that were discussed in the report include:

• The global Living Planet Index declined by almost 30 per cent between 1970 and 2008.
• The global tropical index declined by 60 per cent during the same period.
• The global temperate index increased by 31 per cent; however this disguises huge historical losses prior to 1970.
• The global terrestrial, freshwater and marine indices all declined, with the freshwater index declining the most, by 37 per cent.
• The tropical freshwater index declined even more precipitously, by 70 per cent.
• Humanity's Ecological Footprint exceeded the Earth's biocapacity by more than 50 per cent in 2008.
• In recent decades, the carbon footprint is a significant component of this ecological overshoot.
• Biocapacity per person decreased from 3.2 global hectares in 1961 to 1.8 per capita in 2008, even though total global biocapacity increased over this time.
• Rising consumption trends in high-income groups around the world and in BRIICS countries, combined with growing population numbers, provide warning signs of the potential for even larger footprints in the future.

     Media groups across the world are reacting to the release of the report in a variety of ways. While CBC News has focused on Canada's disgraceful ecological footprint, other outlets have devoted their resources to other ramifications from the report. For example CNN posted an article that focuses heavily on the details of the report and uses the words and expertise of Leape to cement the importance of what the organization is saying. Al Jazeera's story looks more closely at the divisions between high-income and low-income countries and how the former is being sustained by the latter.

Consumption scenario as set out by the WWF in the Living Planet Report.

     It's clear that a lot of work needs to be done in order to ensure that the world's resources are still around for future generations. While steps have been taken to increase awareness and reduce ecological footprints it's still not enough. Our comfort and complacency have made us fools. We devour the planet with little concern for tomorrow. This isn't done because we don't know any better but rather our willful ignorance is supported by our extreme laziness. High-income countries like Canada need to do better. By filling our ravenous appetites with no regard we deserve the horrors that are coming our way.