The U.N. released their
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment on Wednesday. Billmon sums it up.
We are living beyond our means.
The most comprehensive survey ever into the state of the planet concludes that human activities threaten the Earth's ability to sustain future generations. The report says the way society obtains its resources has caused irreversible changes that are degrading the natural processes that support life on Earth . . . The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was drawn up by 1,300 researchers from 95 nations over four years.
Billmon has the dismal highlights. The short version: The world as we know it is doomed.
More in Extended Entry
Green Car Congress points out that the anti-ennviro GOPers want us to give up, but reminds us:
The Millennium Environmental Assessment doesn't give a detailed, step-by-step set of instructions as to how to achieve the more positive futures they lay out. That wasn't the point of the exercise, or even of the scenarios. They just needed to remind us that the future remains in our hands.
And also provides a link to World Changing, which fill in some of the details of the report:
(A quick summary of the MEA, for those of you who have missed out on the fun. A multi-year study involving over 2,000 scientists from 95 countries, the Millennium Assessment Report is a broad survey of environmental indicators. Overall, the story isn't good. Of the 24 key "services" provided by the environment, 15 have "degraded over the last 50 years--most notably fresh water, fisheries, air and water purification, and the regulation of climate, natural hazards and pests. Only four have been enhanced, and three of those pertain to food production." The MEA website is here; the available synthesis reports are here; they key report is here (6 MB PDF); and (for those of you not wishing to read the full 200+ page document) a "popularized" summary site is here.)
And World Chainging links to Green Facts for a short, detailed summary of the report and a detailed FAQ that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the end of the world as we know it.
It's nice that the information is available on the web, because the RWCM has been too preoccupied with the death of two individuals, to notice that civilization itself may be joining them relatively soon. The N.Y. Times has the most extensive coverage I was able to locate in the MSM.
On the other hand, it's not like either political party is prepared to address any serious issues.