WWF Study: STATS Ten Second Response

A World Wildlife Fund (WWF) study, to be released July 9, warns that over-consumption will force human colonization of other planets within fifty years unless it is curtailed immediately. On the contrary, we are not running out of resources. This storyline is tired and unproven.

Subject: A World Wildlife Fund (PRWEB) July 11, 2002 -consumption will force human colonization of other planets within fifty years unless it is curtailed immediately.

10 Second Response: We are not running out of resources. This storyline is tired and unproven.

30 Second Response: The WWF report warns that the seas will become emptied of fish, all forests will be destroyed and supplies of drinking water will become polluted or disappear. But, according to reliable data, the Age of Ragnarok is not just around the corner. In fact, economic and scientific advances have made it possible for the developed world to be more efficient in its natural resource usage, to find or make new resources, and maintain or revive endangered species. The WWF follows in the footsteps of Thomas Malthus, who famously predicted that humanity should have run out of food a century ago.

Background: (1) Will deforestation leave us with no trees? Data from the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization show a relatively consistent trend line from 1948 to the mid-nineties, with about 30 percent of the planets land surface covered by forest. If these trends continue, nothing bad will happen. The developed world is already increasing conservation and replacement efforts, which might off-set any decrease in cover caused by excessive consumption in the developing world. Indeed, commercial growers are making better use of faster-growing pine stocks -- a good example of market adaptation.

(2) Will the seas be empty of fish? Not likely. While over-fishing of particular stocks and particular regions has yielded a decline in wild catches, modern aquaculture and genetically modified fish development mean that farmed fish production is increasing dramatically every year.

(3) Will we run out of drinking water? No way. While certain regions appear destined for shortages (if they dont have them already), the planet as a whole has an abundance of drinking water. The WWF might make a credible case for new policies in water management and pricing, so that these regions may benefit from other regions abundance. But drinkable water is not disappearing. In addition, over seventy percent of the Earths surface is water of some kind (if the worst-case-scenario climate change models are correct, that percentage will grow even further). That water can recycle through the climate, eventually into drinking water, or we can desalinate if need be.

CONTACT: Howard Fienberg, Senior Analyst with the Statistical Assessment Service (STATS).
Phone: 202-223-3193
E-mail: hfienberg@stats.org

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