World Exceeds Maximum Natural Resource Consumption Limit in 2019
According to the Global Footprint Network organization, based on calculations, the world has exceeded the predetermined limit for natural resource consumption since Monday, July 29, 2019.
The Global Footprint Network organization, which announces annually the day the world exceeds the permitted limit of natural resource consumption, states that as of Monday, July 29 (July 29), the world has exceeded the established limit for 2019. The organization says that for the past several years, exceeding this limit has occurred earlier each year than the previous year.
In 1971, when for the first time annual natural resource consumption exceeded the established limits, the world crossed this threshold on December 21. Last year, this crossing occurred on August 1.
Every year, people around the world cross this line earlier and increasingly use irrigation, agricultural, fisheries, and forest resources. This excessive use in turn causes carbon dioxide emissions to exceed expected levels.
The Global Footprint Network organization, headquartered in Oakland, California, USA, states that this increasing trend has become more pronounced over time, and its manifestations can be seen in deforestation, soil erosion, extinction of plant and animal species, and increased carbon dioxide emissions.
According to this organization, daily consumption of natural resources worldwide is 1.75 times the established limit. If all people in the world lived like Germans and Americans, this consumption would be three and five times the permitted limits, respectively.
Carbon dioxide emissions have not decreased since 2009, and the continued use of coal has prevented this process from declining.
The authors of this research review state that the transportation sector is one of the most problematic sectors in this regard. Since 1990, harmful gas emissions in urban transportation have not decreased and have shown clear increases in air travel.
Per capita energy consumption is also higher than the average established by the European Union and has declined only slightly in recent years.
International environmental organizations say that the consequences of excessive natural resource use and the increasing climate crisis are becoming clearer day by day. The environmental organization “German Watch” has recommended to the German government that it balance natural resource use through climate legislation and by imposing penalties for excessive carbon dioxide emissions.
“Climate Protection Means Protecting Human Survival”
Gerd Müller, German Minister for Development, says that climate protection means protecting human survival. He has called for increasing investment in climate protection worldwide.
Müller states: “Above all, Africa must be transformed into a green continent for renewable energy.” To achieve this goal, a program must also be prepared to support the necessary technologies for this type of energy.
The Catholic relief organization “Misereor” has also called for fundamental change to address excessive natural resource consumption.
Perimun Spiegel, the head of this organization, told the Catholic News Agency that Germany consumes resources that belong to the entire world and this country’s consumption is “essentially beyond the established limits.”
Source: DW
