Letter released on 13th November 2017.
Re-iterating the earlier views, and on the continued aggrevation of the outlook and situation.
We need to act now.
Jeudi 8 août, au terme d'une dernière nuit de négociations, les 166 parties prenantes des Nations unies se sont mis d'accord sur les recommandations aux hommes politiques pour mieux gérer et préserver les ressources de la terre.
The Living Planet Report, WWF’s flagship publication released every two years, is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. The Living Planet Report 2018 is the twelfth edition of the report and provides the scientific evidence to what nature has been telling us repeatedly: unsustainable human activity is pushing the planet’s natural systems that support life on Earth to the edge.
Through multiple indicators including the Living Planet Index (LPI), provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the report shows us the urgent need for a new global deal for nature and people with clear, ambitious goals, targets and metrics, to reverse the devastating trend of biodiversity loss currently impacting the one planet we all call home.
To learn more about the Living Planet Index, how it's calculated, and what it tells us, read the technical supplement here.
Read the interactive summary here.
Presentation made at the TELDAP International Conference in Taiwan, 2nd march 2010. Addresses issues of climate change on biodiversity distribution, and means of adatpation in the case of agrobiodiversity.
Jeudi 8 août, au terme d'une dernière nuit de négociations, les 166 parties prenantes des Nations unies se sont mis d'accord sur les recommandations aux hommes politiques pour mieux gérer et préserver les ressources de la terre.
The Living Planet Report, WWF’s flagship publication released every two years, is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. The Living Planet Report 2018 is the twelfth edition of the report and provides the scientific evidence to what nature has been telling us repeatedly: unsustainable human activity is pushing the planet’s natural systems that support life on Earth to the edge.
Through multiple indicators including the Living Planet Index (LPI), provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the report shows us the urgent need for a new global deal for nature and people with clear, ambitious goals, targets and metrics, to reverse the devastating trend of biodiversity loss currently impacting the one planet we all call home.
To learn more about the Living Planet Index, how it's calculated, and what it tells us, read the technical supplement here.
Read the interactive summary here.
Presentation made at the TELDAP International Conference in Taiwan, 2nd march 2010. Addresses issues of climate change on biodiversity distribution, and means of adatpation in the case of agrobiodiversity.
Role of watershed management in reducing soil erosion zewde azewde alemayehu
Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Soils offer plants physical support, air, water, temperature moderation, nutrients, and protection from toxins. Soils provide readily available nutrients to plants and animals by converting dead organic matter into various nutrient forms.
Community Food Systems and the Tragedy of the CommonsPablo Martin
This slideshow explores community food systems and the so-called "Tragedy of the Commons" in light of Ostrom's Factors for Successful Resource Management.
At the rate things are going, the Earth in the coming decades could cease to be a “safe operating space” for human beings.
We have already crossed four “planetary boundaries.” They are the extinction rate; deforestation; the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; and the flow of nitrogen and phosphorous (used on land as fertilizer) into the ocean. Scientist shown human activities — economic growth, technology, consumption — are destabilizing the global environment,”
“What the science has shown is that human activities — economic growth, technology, consumption — are destabilizing the global environment,”
"Human security will be progressively threatened as the climate changes," the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCCC) warned in its overview report. The Pentagon agrees. "Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty and conflict,"
Scientists estimate that humans will consume twice as many resources as the planet can support by 2050. At the rate things are going, the Earth in the coming decades could cease to be a “safe operating space” for human beings.
Africa Will Starve and Asia Will Drown in 30 Years Due to Climate Change
People in Asia and the Pacific are four times more likely to be affected by natural disaster than in Africa and 25 times more than in Europe or North America?
Global warming could cause an 18 percent drop in world food production by 2050
15 Cities Threatened by Climate Change
The World Bank alarm bells are just the latest to sound about the havoc climate change and man-made global warming will cause to the planet.
The World Health Organization predicts that climate change will cause 250,000 additional deaths per year around the globe between 2030 and 2050, primarily from malaria, diarrhea, heat exposure and malnutrition.
Humanity in need of Climate Responsible Community, Climate Compatible Development
We must get Each baby Caring to Each particle of Food
sasrai Living for Healthy Soils that Ensure Healthy Living and Life
Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on
biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION –
Benefits of landscape restoration, with a focus on African dryland biomesNAP Events
Presented by: Olivier Maes
SESSION II: PLENARY – APPROACHES TO ADAPTATION IN SELECTED SECTORS
The session will set the context for approaches to adaptation by looking at: latest approaches on assessing impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security; applying disaster risk reduction as a pillar of national adaptation strategy in the Philippines; and The Hydrologic Corridor in Africa - an affordable and scalable approach to restore the water cycle and impact local climate through large scale landscape restoration, including rainwater harvesting, reforestation, soil regeneration and sustainable climate adapted agriculture.
Environmental issues emerging from increase in populationDevansh Tiwari
More people require more resources, which means that as the population increases, the Earth’s resources deplete more rapidly. The result of this depletion is deforestation and loss of biodiversity as humans strip the Earth of resources to accommodate rising population numbers
IEA's view on the developments and trends in the world energy system, up and to 2040.
Without too many words- EFOW view is that we need to urgently reform our present policy approach on Energy, but start to organize Energy Architecture & UN SDGs development/ transition programs to scale.
Teaser: Platform and Movement: The sustainability road forward..Energy for One World
Our studio is involved in the design, planning and roll-out of a Platform and movement on the sustainability (leadership) road forwards.
This is a teaser.
You are invited to enquire into possibilities or participation or sponsorship.
Role of watershed management in reducing soil erosion zewde azewde alemayehu
Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Soils offer plants physical support, air, water, temperature moderation, nutrients, and protection from toxins. Soils provide readily available nutrients to plants and animals by converting dead organic matter into various nutrient forms.
Community Food Systems and the Tragedy of the CommonsPablo Martin
This slideshow explores community food systems and the so-called "Tragedy of the Commons" in light of Ostrom's Factors for Successful Resource Management.
At the rate things are going, the Earth in the coming decades could cease to be a “safe operating space” for human beings.
We have already crossed four “planetary boundaries.” They are the extinction rate; deforestation; the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; and the flow of nitrogen and phosphorous (used on land as fertilizer) into the ocean. Scientist shown human activities — economic growth, technology, consumption — are destabilizing the global environment,”
“What the science has shown is that human activities — economic growth, technology, consumption — are destabilizing the global environment,”
"Human security will be progressively threatened as the climate changes," the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCCC) warned in its overview report. The Pentagon agrees. "Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty and conflict,"
Scientists estimate that humans will consume twice as many resources as the planet can support by 2050. At the rate things are going, the Earth in the coming decades could cease to be a “safe operating space” for human beings.
Africa Will Starve and Asia Will Drown in 30 Years Due to Climate Change
People in Asia and the Pacific are four times more likely to be affected by natural disaster than in Africa and 25 times more than in Europe or North America?
Global warming could cause an 18 percent drop in world food production by 2050
15 Cities Threatened by Climate Change
The World Bank alarm bells are just the latest to sound about the havoc climate change and man-made global warming will cause to the planet.
The World Health Organization predicts that climate change will cause 250,000 additional deaths per year around the globe between 2030 and 2050, primarily from malaria, diarrhea, heat exposure and malnutrition.
Humanity in need of Climate Responsible Community, Climate Compatible Development
We must get Each baby Caring to Each particle of Food
sasrai Living for Healthy Soils that Ensure Healthy Living and Life
Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on
biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- ADVANCE UNEDITED VERSION –
Benefits of landscape restoration, with a focus on African dryland biomesNAP Events
Presented by: Olivier Maes
SESSION II: PLENARY – APPROACHES TO ADAPTATION IN SELECTED SECTORS
The session will set the context for approaches to adaptation by looking at: latest approaches on assessing impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security; applying disaster risk reduction as a pillar of national adaptation strategy in the Philippines; and The Hydrologic Corridor in Africa - an affordable and scalable approach to restore the water cycle and impact local climate through large scale landscape restoration, including rainwater harvesting, reforestation, soil regeneration and sustainable climate adapted agriculture.
Environmental issues emerging from increase in populationDevansh Tiwari
More people require more resources, which means that as the population increases, the Earth’s resources deplete more rapidly. The result of this depletion is deforestation and loss of biodiversity as humans strip the Earth of resources to accommodate rising population numbers
IEA's view on the developments and trends in the world energy system, up and to 2040.
Without too many words- EFOW view is that we need to urgently reform our present policy approach on Energy, but start to organize Energy Architecture & UN SDGs development/ transition programs to scale.
Teaser: Platform and Movement: The sustainability road forward..Energy for One World
Our studio is involved in the design, planning and roll-out of a Platform and movement on the sustainability (leadership) road forwards.
This is a teaser.
You are invited to enquire into possibilities or participation or sponsorship.
EDI/Nyenrode Executive Energy Transition Class- Aachen 20th May 2017Energy for One World
presentation pack pertaining by the open conversation and workshop by Adriaan Kamp (EFOW) on Energy Architecture and UN Sustainable Development- and our Leadership of Change.
Tales of Conversion - Preview Text Only- February 2017- Book now available o...Energy for One World
Book and as part of our 2017 Program Works on Leadership and UN Sustainable Development.
Tales of Conversion- For Leaders in Government and Business, including the Bridge between Laudato Si & UN Sustainable development.
Book now available on Amazon and Kindle- anywhere around the world.
Problem Statement 1
Problem Statement
Alicia Harris
Julia Intawiwat
English 215
11/05/2017
Climate Change and Destruction of Natural Resources
Indeed, a problem exists in the world, and it is posing a great threat to human life. Natural resources are down by at least 60% and what is left is also under attack, the climatic conditions are worsening by the day. It is a problem that is universal and affecting every part of the world. Climate change refers to the global or regional climate patterns which changed in the mid and late 20th century due to various factors such as increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced largely by use of fossil fuels (Costanza 36). Climate change is causing more harm than good from farming to other business that depends on natural resources for their establishment, these funds are being destroyed by human beings for personal gains without caring about the adverse effects the destruction has on the universe.
History, overview, and Status
Climate change was experienced in the late 20th century, and it has grown tremendously ever since. The climate patterns currently are unpredictable, and no one can rely on what they thought were the patterns previously. Climate change is a problem that is directly affecting natural resources where currently trees bud in the spring, lakes freeze and thaw while extreme events that affect large water masses are caused by changing temperatures and precipitations (Le Billon 25). Some animal species have died and are become distinct due to the problem while others are migrating to a new location in search of food sources and breeding zones. It has been reported that cases of diseases and pests outbreak in the forests have increased in the 21st century compared to years ago. Effects are more than normal since every sector is affected including the fish and aquatic life, wildlife, wetlands, drylands as well, parks and other reserved areas, water bodies and plants among others.
Economic Problems Invited by Climatic Changes
The international community has tried a lot to deal constructively with the problem of countering climate change over the past two decades. Climate change is the preeminent global crisis of our time, and through various measures and policies have been put in place, minimal positive growth is recorded. With the many articles, comprehensive reviews, and intensive research, a conclusion drawn from them is that the costs and benefits of mitigating climate change in the next five decades are uncertain (Le Billon 64). So far a lot of money has been spent by the government and non-governmental organizations to save up the world from issues to brought about by climate chang.
Biodiversity ”” the variety of all life, from genes and species to ecosystems ”” is intimately linked to Earth’s climate and, inevitably, to climate change. Biodiversity and poverty are also inextricably connected. For instance, changes to natural ecosystems influence both climate change and people’s ability to cope with some of its damaging impacts. And in their turn climate change, as well as people’s responses to it, affect biodiversity. Unpicking all these strands clearly shows that conserving and managing biodiversity can help natural systems and vulnerable people cope with a shifting global climate. Yet compared to activities such as forest conservation and afforestation ”” widely noted as a way of sequestering carbon and cutting greenhouse gas emissions ”” biodiversity conservation is a neglected area. That must change urgent support is needed for local solutions to biodiversity loss that provide benefits on all counts. Dr. Anju Pathak "Affect of Climate Change on Biodiversity" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-2 , April 2023, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/papers/ijtsrd56209.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/56209/affect-of-climate-change-on-biodiversity/dr-anju-pathak
Dynamics in the History and Economic Development of Man: Refocusing on Ecolog...AEIJjournal2
Man’s history and development endeavours have beenadvancing alongside a trail of ecological
ramifications and climate change. Since prehistoric times, scientists have not recorded an accelerated shift
in the ecologyof the planet during any other epoch beside that of modern man. The paper seeks to explore
how man’s history and developmentaffects ecologyand climate. It uses desk analysis to recollect data from
global assessment reportsand runs a One paired Sample Means t-Test, 1 tailed, 8 df, at Pearson
Correlation value 0.458 and 0.5 alpha level. Findings show that, there is globalclimate change, seen in
global warming trends; andimbalance in ecological footprint, seen in depletion of air, water and land
sinks. The t-Test reveals significant net loss of global forest cover.The study also,apparently found that,
processes ofdevelopment generally tend to damage ecology. Therefore,the study recommends a refocus to
sustainable means of development.
DYNAMICS IN THE HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF MAN: REFOCUSING ON ECOLOG...AEIJjournal2
Man’s history and development endeavours have beenadvancing alongside a trail of ecological
ramifications and climate change. Since prehistoric times, scientists have not recorded an accelerated shift
in the ecologyof the planet during any other epoch beside that of modern man. The paper seeks to explore
how man’s history and developmentaffects ecologyand climate. It uses desk analysis to recollect data from
global assessment reportsand runs a One paired Sample Means t-Test, 1 tailed, 8 df, at Pearson
Correlation value 0.458 and 0.5 alpha level. Findings show that, there is globalclimate change, seen in
global warming trends; andimbalance in ecological footprint, seen in depletion of air, water and land
sinks. The t-Test reveals significant net loss of global forest cover.The study also,apparently found that,
processes ofdevelopment generally tend to damage ecology. Therefore,the study recommends a refocus to
sustainable means of development.
This presentation tells about how climate change is happening due to the population and its impact on the environment in terms of ecological impacts etc.
IFPRI Policy Seminar “Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement--A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development” held on December 3, 2015. Presentation by Rattan Lal, Carbon Management and Sequestration Center.
Coastal marsh. Wetlands in the Atchafalaya National Wil.docxmonicafrancis71118
Coastal marsh.
'Wetlands in the
Atchafalaya National
Wildlife Refuge in
Louisiana provide valuable
ecosystem services.
2 Communities and Ecosystems
Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, Fourth Edition, by Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey, and Jane B. Reece. Published by Benjamin Cummings.
Copyright CD, 2013 by Pearson Education, Inc.
CHAPTER CONTENTS
The Loss of Biodiversity 426
Community Ecology 428
Ecosystem Ecology 437
Conservation and Restoration Biology 444
CHAPTER THREAD
Biodiversity in Decline
BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Why Biodiversity Matters 425
THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE
How Does Tropical Forest Fragmentation
Affect Biodiversity? 446
EVOLUTION CONNECTION
Can Biophilia Save Biodiversity? 448
Biodiversity in Decline BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Why Biodiversity Matters
As the human population has expanded, hundreds of species have become extinct and thou-
sands more are threatened with extinction. These changes represent a loss in biological di-
versity, or biodiversity. Biodiversity loss goes hand in hand with the disappearance of natural
ecosystems. Only about a quarter of Earth's land surfaces remain untouched by human altera-
tions. We see the evidence of our impact on natural ecosystems every day. We live and work
in altered landscapes. And though we may be less aware of it, our impact on the oceans is also
extensive.
What is the value of biodiversity? Most people appreciate the direct benefits provided by
certain ecosystems. For example, you probably know that we use resources—such as water,
wood, and fish—that come from natural or near-natural ecosystems. These resources have
economic value, as the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico dramatically demonstrated.
Billions of dollars were lost by fishing, recreation, and other industries as a result of the di-
saster. But human well-being also depends on less obvious services that healthy ecosystems
provide. The coastal wetlands affected by the Gulf oil spill normally act as a buffer against hur-
ricanes, reduce the impact of flooding, and filter pollutants. The wetlands also furnish nesting
sites for birds and marine turtles and breeding areas and nurseries for a wide variety of fish
and shellfish. Natural ecosystems provide other services as well—such as recycling nutrients,
preventing erosion and mudslides, controlling agricultural pests, and pollinating crops. Some
scientists have attempted to assign an economic value to these benefits. They arrived at an
average annual value of ecosystem services of $33 trillion, almost twice the global gross
national product for the year they published their results. Although rough, these estimates
make the important point that we cannot afford to take biodiversity for granted.
In this chapter, we'll examine the interactions among organisms and how those relation-
ships determine the features of communities. On a larger scale, we'll explore the dynamics
of ecosystems. Finally, we'll consi.
The Big Oil Reality Check report finds that the climate pledges and plans of 8 international oil and gas companies fail to align with international agreements to phase out fossil fuels and to limit global temperature rise to 1.5ºC.
Publication May 2021
IEA publication, May 2024
Critical minerals, which are essential for a range of clean energy technologies, have risen up the policy agenda in recent years due to increasing demand, volatile price movements, supply chain bottlenecks and geopolitical concerns. The dynamic nature of the market necessitates greater transparency and reliable information to facilitate informed decision-making, as underscored by the request from Group of Seven (G7) ministers for the IEA to produce medium- and long-term outlooks for critical minerals.
The Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024 follows the IEA’s inaugural review of the market last year. It provides a snapshot of industry developments in 2023 and early 2024 and offers medium- and long-term outlooks for the demand and supply of key energy transition minerals based on the latest technology and policy trends.
The report also assesses key risks to the reliability, sustainability and diversity of critical mineral supply chains and analyses the consequences for policy and industry stakeholders. It will be accompanied by an updated version of the Critical Minerals Data Explorer, an interactive online tool that allows users to explore the latest IEA projections.
Science Publication
Global projections of macroeconomic climate-change damages typically consider
impacts from average annual and national temperatures over long time horizons1–6
.
Here we use recent empirical fndings from more than 1,600 regions worldwide over
the past 40 years to project sub-national damages from temperature and precipitation,
including daily variability and extremes7,8
. Using an empirical approach that provides
a robust lower bound on the persistence of impacts on economic growth, we fnd that
the world economy is committed to an income reduction of 19% within the next
26 years independent of future emission choices (relative to a baseline without
climate impacts, likely range of 11–29% accounting for physical climate and empirical
uncertainty). These damages already outweigh the mitigation costs required to limit
global warming to 2 °C by sixfold over this near-term time frame and thereafter diverge
strongly dependent on emission choices. Committed damages arise predominantly
through changes in average temperature, but accounting for further climatic
components raises estimates by approximately 50% and leads to stronger regional
heterogeneity. Committed losses are projected for all regions except those at very
high latitudes, at which reductions in temperature variability bring benefts. The
largest losses are committed at lower latitudes in regions with lower cumulative
historical emissions and lower present-day income.
Science Publication: The atlas of unburnable oil for supply-side climate poli...Energy for One World
Nature Communication, Publication 2024
To limit the increase in global mean temperature to 1.5 °C, CO2 emissions must
be drastically reduced. Accordingly, approximately 97%, 81%, and 71% of
existing coal and conventional gas and oil resources, respectively, need to
remain unburned. This article develops an integrated spatial assessment
model based on estimates and locations of conventional oil resources and
socio-environmental criteria to construct a global atlas of unburnable oil. The
results show that biodiversity hotspots, richness centres of endemic species,
natural protected areas, urban areas, and the territories of Indigenous Peoples
in voluntary isolation coincide with 609 gigabarrels (Gbbl) of conventional oil
resources. Since 1524 Gbbl of conventional oil resources are required to be left
untapped in order to keep global warming under 1.5 °C, all of the above-
mentioned socio-environmentally sensitive areas can be kept entirely off-
limits to oil extraction. The model provides spatial guidelines to select
unburnable fossil fuels resources while enhancing collateral socio-
environmental benefits.
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
Up the Ratios Bylaws - a Comprehensive Process of Our Organizationuptheratios
Up the Ratios is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education for underprivileged students by providing free, high-quality learning opportunities in robotics and other STEM fields. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers by offering a range of educational programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
At Up the Ratios, we believe that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today's technology-driven world. To achieve this, we host a variety of free classes, workshops, summer camps, and live lectures tailored to students from underserved communities. Our programs are designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing students to explore the exciting world of robotics and STEM through practical, real-world applications.
Our free classes cover fundamental concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering, providing students with a strong foundation in these critical areas. Through our interactive workshops, students can dive deeper into specific topics, working on projects that challenge them to apply what they've learned and think creatively. Our summer camps offer an immersive experience where students can collaborate on larger projects, develop their teamwork skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
In addition to our local programs, Up the Ratios is committed to making a global impact. We take donations of new and gently used robotics parts, which we then distribute to students and educational institutions in other countries. These donations help ensure that young learners worldwide have the resources they need to explore and excel in STEM fields. By supporting education in this way, we aim to nurture a global community of future leaders and innovators.
Our live lectures feature guest speakers from various STEM disciplines, including engineers, scientists, and industry professionals who share their knowledge and experiences with our students. These lectures provide valuable insights into potential career paths and inspire students to pursue their passions in STEM.
Up the Ratios relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue our work. Contributions of time, expertise, and financial support are crucial to sustaining our programs and expanding our reach. Whether you're an individual passionate about education, a professional in the STEM field, or a company looking to give back to the community, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
We are proud of the positive impact we've had on the lives of countless students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. By providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, we are not only changing their futures but also contributing to the advancement of technology and innovation on a broader scale.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
What is the point of small housing associations.pptxPaul Smith
Given the small scale of housing associations and their relative high cost per home what is the point of them and how do we justify their continued existance
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
World Scientists'Warning to Humanity on the Health of Planet Earth- 16,000 scientists
1. Viewpoint
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience XXXX XXXX / Vol. XX No. X • BioScience 1
World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity:
A Second Notice
WILLIAM J. RIPPLE, CHRISTOPHER WOLF, THOMAS M. NEWSOME, MAURO GALETTI, MOHAMMED ALAMGIR, EILEEN CRIST,
MAHMOUD I. MAHMOUD, WILLIAM F. LAURANCE, and 15,364 scientist signatories from 184 countries
Twenty-five years ago, the Union
of Concerned Scientists and more
than 1700 independent scientists,
including the majority of living Nobel
laureates in the sciences, penned the
1992 “World Scientists’ Warning to
Humanity” (see supplemental file S1).
These concerned professionals called
on humankind to curtail environmen-
tal destruction and cautioned that
“a great change in our stewardship of
the Earth and the life on it is required,
if vast human misery is to be avoided.”
In their manifesto, they showed that
humans were on a collision course
with the natural world. They expressed
concern about current, impending,
or potential damage on planet Earth
involving ozone depletion, freshwa-
ter availability, marine life depletion,
ocean dead zones, forest loss, biodiver-
sity destruction, climate change, and
continued human population growth.
They proclaimed that fundamental
changes were urgently needed to avoid
the consequences our present course
would bring.
The authors of the 1992 declara-
tion feared that humanity was pushing
Earth’s ecosystems beyond their capac-
ities to support the web of life. They
described how we are fast approach-
ing many of the limits of what the
biosphere can tolerate without
substantial and irreversible harm.
The scientists pleaded that we stabi-
lize the human population, describing
how our large numbers—swelled by
another 2 billion people since 1992,
a 35 percent increase—exert stresses
on Earth that can overwhelm other
efforts to realize a sustainable future
(Crist et al. 2017). They implored that
we cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-
sions and phase out fossil fuels, reduce
deforestation, and reverse the trend of
collapsing biodiversity.
On the twenty-fifth anniversary of
their call, we look back at their warn-
ing and evaluate the human response
by exploring available time-series
data. Since 1992, with the exception
of stabilizing the stratospheric ozone
layer, humanity has failed to make
sufficient progress in generally solv-
ing these foreseen environmental chal-
lenges, and alarmingly, most of them
are getting far worse (figure 1, file S1).
Especially troubling is the current
trajectory of potentially catastrophic
climate change due to rising GHGs
from burning fossil fuels (Hansen et al.
2013), deforestation (Keenan et al.
2015), and agricultural production—
particularly from farming ruminants
for meat consumption (Ripple et al.
2014). Moreover, we have unleashed
a mass extinction event, the sixth in
roughly 540 million years, wherein
many current life forms could be
annihilated or at least committed to
extinction by the end of this century.
Humanity is now being given a
second notice, as illustrated by these
alarming trends (figure 1). We are
jeopardizing our future by not reining
in our intense but geographically and
demographically uneven material
consumption and by not perceiving
continued rapid population growth as a
primary driver behind many ecological
and even societal threats (Crist et al.
2017). By failing to adequately limit
population growth, reassess the role
of an economy rooted in growth,
reduce greenhouse gases, incentivize
renewable energy, protect habitat,
restore ecosystems, curb pollution, halt
defaunation, and constrain invasive
alien species, humanity is not taking
the urgent steps needed to safeguard
our imperilled biosphere.
As most political leaders respond to
pressure, scientists, media influencers,
and lay citizens must insist that their
governments take immediate action
as a moral imperative to current and
future generations of human and other
life. With a groundswell of organized
grassroots efforts, dogged opposition
can be overcome and political leaders
compelled to do the right thing. It is
also time to re-examine and change
our individual behaviors, including
limiting our own reproduction (ideally
to replacement level at most) and
drastically diminishing our per capita
consumption of fossil fuels, meat, and
other resources.
The rapid global decline in ozone-
depleting substances shows that we
can make positive change when we
act decisively. We have also made
advancements in reducing extreme
poverty and hunger (www.worldbank.
org). Other notable progress (which
does not yet show up in the global
data sets in figure 1) include the
rapid decline in fertility rates in many
regions attributable to investments in
girls’ and women’s education (www.
un.org/esa/population), the promising
decline in the rate of deforestation in
some regions, and the rapid growth
in the renewable-energy sector. We
have learned much since 1992, but
the advancement of urgently needed
changes in environmental policy,
human behavior, and global inequities
is still far from sufficient.
Sustainability transitions come
about in diverse ways, and all require
civil-society pressure and evidence-
based advocacy, political leadership,
and a solid understanding of policy
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2. Viewpoint
2 BioScience • XXXX XXXX / Vol. XX No. X https://academic.oup.com/bioscience
Figure 1. Trends over time for environmental issues identified in the 1992 scientists’ warning to humanity. The years
before and after the 1992 scientists’ warning are shown as gray and black lines, respectively. Panel (a) shows emissions
of halogen source gases, which deplete stratospheric ozone, assuming a constant natural emission rate of 0.11 Mt CFC-
11-equivalent per year. In panel (c), marine catch has been going down since the mid-1990s, but at the same time, fishing
effort has been going up (supplemental file S1). The vertebrate abundance index in panel (f) has been adjusted for
taxonomic and geographic bias but incorporates relatively little data from developing countries, where there are the fewest
studies; between 1970 and 2012, vertebrates declined by 58 percent, with freshwater, marine, and terrestrial populations
declining by 81, 36, and 35 percent, respectively (file S1). Five-year means are shown in panel (h). In panel (i), ruminant
livestock consist of domestic cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes. Note that y-axes do not start at zero, and it is important to
inspect the data range when interpreting each graph. Percentage change, since 1992, for the variables in each panel are as
follows: (a) –68.1%; (b) –26.1%; (c) –6.4%; (d) +75.3%; (e) –2.8%; (f) –28.9%; (g) +62.1%; (h) +167.6%; and (i) humans:
+35.5%, ruminant livestock: +20.5%. Additional descriptions of the variables and trends, as well as sources for figure 1,
are included in file S1.
Humans
Ruminant livestock
CO2
emissions
(Gt CO2
per year)
Temperature change
(°C)
Population
(billion individuals)
Dead zones (number
of affected regions)
Total forest
(billion ha)
Vertebrate species
abundance (% of 1970)
Ozone depletors (Mt CFC−
11−equivalent per year)
Freshwater resources
per capita (1000 m3
)
Reconstructed marine
catch (Mt per year)
1960 1992 2016 1960 1992 2016 1960 1992 2016
50
70
90
110
130
40
60
80
100
3
4
5
6
7
6
8
10
12
4.00
4.05
4.10
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
0.3
0.6
0.9
1.2
1.5
200
400
600
10
20
30
Year
g. h. i.
d. e. f.
a. b. c.
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3. Viewpoint
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience XXXX XXXX / Vol. XX No. X • BioScience 3
instruments, markets, and other driv-
ers. Examples of diverse and effective
steps humanity can take to transition
to sustainability include the follow-
ing (not in order of importance or
urgency): (a) prioritizing the enact-
ment of connected well-funded and
well-managed reserves for a significant
proportion of the world’s terrestrial,
marine, freshwater, and aerial habi-
tats; (b) maintaining nature’s ecosys-
tem services by halting the conversion
of forests, grasslands, and other native
habitats; (c) restoring native plant
communities at large scales, particu-
larly forest landscapes; (d) rewilding
regions with native species, especially
apex predators, to restore ecological
processes and dynamics; (e) devel-
oping and adopting adequate policy
instruments to remedy defaunation,
the poaching crisis, and the exploi-
tation and trade of threatened spe-
cies; (f) reducing food waste through
education and better infrastructure;
(g) promoting dietary shifts towards
mostly plant-based foods; (h) further
reducing fertility rates by ensuring
that women and men have access to
education and voluntary family-plan-
ning services, especially where such
resources are still lacking; (i) increas-
ing outdoor nature education for
children, as well as the overall engage-
ment of society in the appreciation
of nature; (j) divesting of monetary
investments and purchases to encour-
age positive environmental change;
(k) devising and promoting new green
technologies and massively adopting
renewable energy sources while phas-
ing out subsidies to energy production
through fossil fuels; (l) revising our
economy to reduce wealth inequality
and ensure that prices, taxation, and
incentive systems take into account
the real costs which consumption pat-
terns impose on our environment; and
(m) estimating a scientifically defen-
sible, sustainable human population
size for the long term while rallying
nations and leaders to support that
vital goal.
To prevent widespread misery
and catastrophic biodiversity
loss, humanity must practice a
more environmentally sustainable
alternative to business as usual. This
prescription was well articulated by
the world’s leading scientists 25 years
ago, but in most respects, we have not
heeded their warning. Soon it will be
too late to shift course away from our
failing trajectory, and time is running
out. We must recognize, in our day-
to-day lives and in our governing
institutions, that Earth with all its life
is our only home.
Epilogue
We have been overwhelmed with the
support for our article and thank the
more than 15,000 signatories from all
ends of the Earth (see supplemental
file S2 for list of signatories). As far as
we know, this is the most scientists to
ever co-sign and formally support a
published journal article. In this paper,
we have captured the environmental
trends over the last 25 years, showed
realistic concern, and suggested a few
examples of possible remedies. Now,
as an Alliance of World Scientists
(scientists.forestry.oregonstate.edu) and
with the public at large, it is important
tocontinuethisworktodocumentchal-
lenges, as well as improved situations,
and to develop clear, trackable, and
practical solutions while communicat-
ing trends and needs to world leaders.
Working together while respecting the
diversity of people and opinions and
the need for social justice around the
world, we can make great progress for
the sake of humanity and the planet on
which we depend.
Spanish, Portuguese, and French
versions of this article can be found
in file S1.
Acknowledgments
Peter Frumhoff and Doug Boucher
of the Union of Concerned Scientists,
as well as the following individuals,
provided thoughtful discussions,
comments,ordataforthispaper:Stuart
Pimm, David Johns, David Pengelley,
Guillaume Chapron, Steve Montzka,
Robert Diaz, Drik Zeller, Gary
Gibson, Leslie Green, Nick Houtman,
Peter Stoel, Karen Josephson, Robin
Comforto, Terralyn Vandetta, Luke
Painter, Rodolfo Dirzo, Guy Peer, Peter
Haswell, and Robert Johnson.
Supplemental material
Supplementary data are available at
BIOSCI online including supplemental
file 1 and supplemental file 2 (full list
of all 15,364 signatories).
References cited
Crist E, Mora C, Engelman R. 2017. The interac-
tion of human population, food production,
and biodiversity protection. Science 356:
260–264.
Hansen J, et al. 2013. Assessing “dangerous
climate change”: Required reduction of
carbon emissions to protect young people,
future generations and nature. PLOS ONE
8 (art. e81648).
Keenan, RJ, Reams GA, Achard F, de Freitas JV,
Grainger A, Lindquist E. 2015. Dynamics
of global forest area: Results from the FAO
Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015.
Forest Ecology and Management 352: 9–20.
Ripple WJ, Smith P, Haberl H, Montzka SA,
McAlpine C, Boucher DH. 2014. Ruminants,
climate change and climate policy. Nature
Climate Change 4: 2–5. doi:10.1038/
nclimate2081
William J. Ripple (bill.ripple@oregonstate.edu),
Christopher Wolf, and Thomas M. Newsome
are affiliated with the Global Trophic Cascades
Program in the Department of Forest Ecosystems
and Society at Oregon State University, in
Corvallis. TMN is also affiliated with the Centre
for Integrative Ecology at Deakin University, in
Geelong, Australia, and the School of Life and
Environmental Sciences at The University of
Sydney, Australia. Mauro Galetti is affiliated
with the Instituto de Biociências, Universidade
Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Ecologia,
in São Paulo, Brazil. Mohammed Alamgir
is affiliated with the Institute of Forestry and
Environmental Sciences at the University of
Chittagong, in Bangladesh. Eileen Crist is
affiliated with the Department of Science and
Technology in Society at Virginia Tech, in
Blacksburg. Mahmoud I. Mahmoud is affiliated
with the ICT/Geographic Information Systems
Unit of the National Oil Spill Detection and
Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Abuja, Nigeria.
William F. Laurance is affiliated with the Centre
for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability
Science and the College of Science and
Engineering at James Cook University, in Cairns,
Queensland, Australia.
doi:10.1093/biosci/bix125
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4. 1
Supplemental File S1
For the article “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice” published in
BioScience in 2017 by William J. Ripple, Christopher Wolf, Mauro Galetti, Thomas M
Newsome, Mohammed Alamgir, Eileen Crist, Mahmoud I. Mahmoud, William F. Laurance
and 15,364 signatories from 184 countries (see supplemental File S2)
Contents: Page
Descriptions of variables and trends in figure 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
References for figure 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Full text of the 1992 World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity . . . . . . . . . 4-6
5. 2
Descriptions of variables and trends in Figure 1.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Ozone depletion, Figure 1a. During the 1970s, human-produced chemicals known as ozone-depleting substances, mainly
chlorofluorocarbons, were rapidly depleting the ozone layer. In 1987, governments of the world came together and crafted
the United Nations Montreal Protocol as a global attempt to address this issue. With protocol compliance, emissions of
halogen source gases (ozone-depleting substances and natural sources) peaked in the late 1980s and since then they have
significantly decreased (Figure 1a). Global ozone depletion is no longer increasing, and significant recovery of the ozone
layer is expected to occur by the middle of this century (Hegglin et al. 2014).
Declining Freshwater availability, Figure 1b. Per capita freshwater availability is less than half of levels of the early
1960s (Figure 1b, AQUASTAT 2017) with many people around the world suffering from a lack of fresh clean water. This
decrease in available water is nearly all due to the accelerated pace of human population growth. It is likely that climate
change will have an overwhelming impact on the freshwater availability through alteration of the hydrologic cycle and water
availability. Future water shortages will be detrimental to humans, affecting everything from drinking water, human health,
sanitation, and the production of crops for food.
Unsustainable marine fisheries, Figure 1c. In 1992, the total marine catch was at or above the maximum sustainable yield
and fisheries were on the verge of collapse. Reconstructed time series data show that global marine fisheries catches peaked
at 130 million tonnes in 1996 and has been declining ever since (Figure 1c). The declines happened despite increased
industrial fishing efforts and despite developed countries expanding to fishing the waters of developing countries (Pauly and
Zeller 2016, updated).
Ocean dead zones, Figure 1d. Coastal dead zones which are mainly caused by fertilizer runoff and fossil-fuel use, are
killing large swaths of marine life. Dead zones with hypoxic, oxygen-depleted waters, are a significant stressor on marine
systems and identified locations have dramatically increased since the 1960s, with more than 600 systems affected by 2010
(Figure 1d, Diaz and Rosenberg 2008, updated).
Forest loss, Figure 1e. The world’s forests are crucial for conserving carbon, biodiversity, and freshwater. Between 1990
and 2015, total forest area decreased from 4,128 to 3,999 million ha, a net loss of 129 million ha which is approximately the
size of South Africa (Figure 1e). Forest loss has been greatest in developing tropical countries where forests are now
commonly converted to agriculture uses (FAO 2015).
Dwindling biodiversity, Figure 1f. The world’s biodiversity is vanishing at an alarming rate and populations of vertebrate
species are rapidly collapsing (World Wildlife Fund 2016). Collectively, global fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and
mammals declined by 58% between 1970 and 2012 (Figure 1f). Here, we display a diversity-weighted Living Planet Index
that has been adjusted for taxonomic and geographic bias by accounting for the estimated number of species within
biogeographical regions, and the relative species diversity within them. (McRae et al. 2017). Freshwater, marine, and
terrestrial populations declined by 81%, 36%, and 35% respectively (McRae et al. 2017).
Climate change, Figure 1g, Figure 1h. Global fossil-fuel carbon dioxide emissions have increased sharply since 1960
(Figure 1g, Boden et al. 2017). Relative to the 1951-1980 average, global average annual surface temperature, in parallel to
CO2 emissions, has also rapidly risen as shown by 5-year mean temperature anomaly (Figure 1h, NASA’s Goddard Institute
for Space Studies (GISS) 2017). The 10 warmest years in the 136-year record have occurred since 1998. The most recent
year of data, 2016, ranks as the warmest on record. Temperature increases will likely cause a decline in the world’s major
food crops, an increase in the intensity of major storms, and a substantial sea level rise inundating major population centers.
Population growth, Figure 1i. Since 1992, the human population has increased by approximately 2 billion individuals, a
35% change (Figure 1i, FAOSTAT 2017). The world human population is unlikely to stop growing this century and there is
a high likelihood that the world population will grow from 7.2 billon people now to between 9.6 and 12.3 billon by 2100
(Gerland et al. 2014). Like the change in human population, the domestic ruminant population, which has its own set of
major environmental and climate impacts, has been increasing in recent decades to approximately 4 billion individuals on
Earth (Figure 1i, FAOSTAT 2017).
Note that the loss of soil productivity was listed as a concern in the 1992 scientists’ warning, but this variable was not
analyzed here due to a lack of global data on changes in soil productivity. For each variable listed below, we calculated
percentage change since 1992 using the values for 1992 and the most recent year available. When data were unavailable for
1992, we used linear interpolation to estimate the value there. These change results are in the caption for Figure 1. See
original data sources shown above for any statements on levels of uncertainty associated with the varibles in Figure 1. Some
sources describe this uncertainty and others do not.
6. 3
References for figure 1
Figure 1a, Hegglin, M. I., D. W. Fahey, M. McFarland, S. A. Montzka, and E. R. Nash. 2015. Twenty questions and
answers about the ozone layer: 2014 Update: Scientific assessment of ozone depletion: 2014. World Meteorological
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Figure 1b, AQUASTAT. 2017. AQUASTAT - FAO’s Information System on Water and Agriculture.
http://www.fao.org/nr/aquastat/.
Figure 1c, Pauly, D., and D. Zeller. 2016. Catch reconstructions reveal that global marine fisheries catches are
higher than reported and declining. Updated. Nature Communications 7:10244.
Figure 1d, Diaz, R. J., and R. Rosenberg. 2008. Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems.
Updated. Science 321:926–929.
Figure 1e, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2015. Global forest resources assessment
2015. http://www.fao.org/forest-resources-assessment/en/.
Figure 1f, World Wildlife Fund. 2016. Living planet report 2016: risk and resilience in a new era.
McRae, L., Deinet, S. and Freeman, R., 2017. The Diversity-Weighted Living Planet Index: Controlling for
Taxonomic Bias in a Global Biodiversity Indicator. PloS one, 12(1), p.e0169156.
Figure 1g, Boden, T. A., G. Marland, and R. J. Andres. 2017. Global, regional, and national fossil-fuel CO2
emissions, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. US Department of
Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., USA 2009. doi 10.3334/CDIAC 1.
Figure 1h, NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). 2017. Global Temperature.
https://climate.nasa.gov/.
Figure 1i, FAOSTAT. 2017. FAOSTAT Database on Agriculture. http://faostat.fao.org/.
7. 4
World Scientists' Warning to Humanity (1992)
UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity
Union of Concerned Scientists
This 1992 document was signed by 1,575 of the world’s most prominent scientists (including 99 of the
196 living Nobel laureates) and was sent to governmental leaders all over the world. The document asks
people to take immediate action to stop the ever-increasing environmental degradation that threatens
global life support systems on this planet. The appeal was coordinated by Dr. Henry Kendall, Nobel
laureate (1990, Physics), and former Chairperson of the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”
Introduction
Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course. Human activities inflict harsh and often
irreversible damage on the environment and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current
practices put at serious risk the future that we wish for human society and the plant and animal kingdoms,
and may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know.
Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present course will bring about.
The Environment
The environment is suffering critical stress:
The Atmosphere
Stratospheric ozone depletion threatens us with enhanced ultra-violet radiation at the earth’s surface,
which can be damaging or lethal to many life forms. Air pollution near ground level, and acid precipitation,
are already causing widespread injury to humans, forests, and crops.
Water Resources
Heedless exploitation of depletable ground water supplies endangers food production and other essential
human systems. Heavy demands on the world’s surface waters have resulted in serious shortages in
some 80 countries, containing 40% of the world’s population. Pollution of rivers, lakes, and ground water
further limits the supply.
Oceans
Destructive pressure on the oceans is severe, particularly in the coastal regions which produce most of
the world’s food fish. The total marine catch is now at or above the estimated maximum sustainable yield.
Some fisheries have already shown signs of collapse. Rivers carrying heavy burdens of eroded soil into
the seas also carry industrial, municipal, agricultural, and livestock waste—some of it toxic.
Soil
Loss of soil productivity, which is causing extensive land abandonment, is a widespread byproduct of
current practices in agriculture and animal husbandry. Since 1945, 11% of the earth’s vegetated surface
has been degraded—an area larger than India and China combined—and per capita food production in
many parts of the world is decreasing.
Forests
Tropical rain forests, as well as tropical and temperate dry forests, are being destroyed rapidly. At present
rates, some critical forest types will be gone in a few years, and most of the tropical rain forest will be
gone before the end of the next century. With them will go large numbers of plant and animal species.
8. 5
Living Species
The irreversible loss of species, which by 2100 may reach one third of all species now living, is especially
serious. We are losing the potential they hold for providing medicinal and other benefits, and the
contribution that genetic diversity of life forms gives to the robustness of the world’s biological systems
and to the astonishing beauty of the earth itself.
Much of this damage is irreversible on a scale of centuries or permanent. Other processes appear to
pose additional threats. Increasing levels of gases in the atmosphere from human activities, including
carbon dioxide released from fossil fuel burning and from deforestation, may alter climate on a global
scale. Predictions of global warming are still uncertain—with projected effects ranging from tolerable to
very severe—but potential risks are very great.
Our massive tampering with the world’s interdependent web of life—coupled with the environmental
damage inflicted by deforestation, species loss, and climate change—could trigger widespread adverse
effects, including unpredictable collapses of critical biological systems whose interactions and dynamics
we only imperfectly understand.
Uncertainty over the extent of these effects cannot excuse complacency or delay in facing the threats.
Population
The earth is finite. Its ability to absorb wastes and destructive effluent is finite. Its ability to provide food
and energy is finite. Its ability to provide for growing numbers of people is finite. And we are fast
approaching many of the earth’s limits. Current economic practices which damage the environment, in
both developed and underdeveloped nations, cannot be continued without the risk that vital global
systems will be damaged beyond repair.
Pressures resulting from unrestrained population growth put demands on the natural world that can
overwhelm any efforts to achieve a sustainable future. If we are to halt the destruction of our environment,
we must accept limits to that growth. A World Bank estimate indicates that world population will not
stabilize at less than 12.4 billion, while the United Nations concludes that the eventual total could reach
14 billion, a near tripling of today’s 5.4 billion. But, even at this moment, one person in five lives in
absolute poverty without enough to eat, and one in ten suffers serious malnutrition.
No more than one or a few decades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be
lost and the prospects for humanity immeasurably diminished.
Warning
We the undersigned, senior members of the world’s scientific community, hereby warn all humanity of
what lies ahead. A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it, is required, if vast
human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated.
What We Must Do
Five inextricably linked areas must be addressed simultaneously:
1. We must bring environmentally damaging activities under control to restore and protect
the integrity of the earth’s systems we depend on.
We must, for example, move away from fossil fuels to more benign, inexhaustible energy sources to cut
greenhouse gas emissions and the pollution of our air and water. Priority must be given to the
development of energy sources matched to third world needs—small scale and relatively easy to
implement.
We must halt deforestation, injury to and loss of agricultural land, and the loss of terrestrial and marine
plant and animal species.
2. We must manage resources crucial to human welfare more effectively.
We must give high priority to efficient use of energy, water, and other materials, including
expansion of conservation and recycling.
9. 6
3. We must stabilize population. This will be possible only if all nations recognize that it
requires improved social and economic conditions, and the adoption of effective,
voluntary family planning.
4. We must reduce and eventually eliminate poverty.
5. We must ensure sexual equality, and guarantee women control over their own
reproductive decisions.
The developed nations are the largest polluters in the world today. They must greatly reduce their
overconsumption, if we are to reduce pressures on resources and the global environment. The developed
nations have the obligation to provide aid and support to developing nations, because only the developed
nations have the financial resources and the technical skills for these tasks.
Acting on this recognition is not altruism, but enlightened self-interest: whether industrialized or not, we all
have but one lifeboat. No nation can escape from injury when global biological systems are damaged. No
nation can escape from conflicts over increasingly scarce resources. In addition, environmental and
economic instabilities will cause mass migrations with incalculable consequences for developed and
undeveloped nations alike.
Developing nations must realize that environmental damage is one of the gravest threats they face, and
that attempts to blunt it will be overwhelmed if their populations go unchecked. The greatest peril is to
become trapped in spirals of environmental decline, poverty, and unrest, leading to social, economic, and
environmental collapse.
Success in this global endeavor will require a great reduction in violence and war. Resources now
devoted to the preparation and conduct of war—amounting to over $1 trillion annually—will be badly
needed in the new tasks and should be diverted to the new challenges.
A new ethic is required—a new attitude toward discharging our responsibility for caring for ourselves and
for the earth. We must recognize the earth’s limited capacity to provide for us. We must recognize its
fragility. We must no longer allow it to be ravaged. This ethic must motivate a great movement, convincing
reluctant leaders and reluctant governments and reluctant peoples themselves to effect the needed
changes.
The scientists issuing this warning hope that our message will reach and affect people everywhere. We
need the help of many.
We require the help of the world community of scientists—natural, social, economic, political;
We require the help of the world’s business and industrial leaders;
We require the help of the world’s religious leaders; and
We require the help of the world’s peoples.
We call on all to join us in this task.