WWF: China Is Depleting Ecological Resources Too Quickly

China is using the world’s resources at 2.5 times of what its ecosystems can sustainably supply, says a new WWF study.

AsianScientist (Dec. 24, 2012) – From glaciers to coral reefs, from deserts to tropical rainforests, China has one of the world’s most diverse environments.

The finless porpoise, also known as the Yangtze river dolphin (Photo: Michel Gunther/WWF-Canon).
It has an abundance of ecological treasures, from the giant panda to tigers, golden monkeys, Asian elephants, black-necked cranes, and Yangtze river dolphins.

But a biennial survey released on Wednesday cautions that China is using the world’s resources at 2.5 times of what its ecosystems can sustainably supply each year.

Commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, the third edition of The Report on China’s Ecological Footprint says that increasing consumption associated with economic growth and urbanization are placing growing pressure on China’s natural environment.

China’s Ecological Footprint in 2003 was 1.6 global hectares per person, the 69th highest country in the world.

While this figure is lower than the world average Ecological Footprint of 2.2 global hectares per person, China has run an ecological deficit since the mid-1970s, says the report.

In total, the world’s most populous country is using 15 percent of global biological capacity, or the equivalent of two Chinas to provide for its consumption and absorb its wastes. The majority of this deficit is due to emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels that are not sequestered.

“Of all the demands China is now placing on its environment, carbon emissions are having the biggest impact by far. More than ever, the country needs innovative solutions to reduce its carbon footprint – production efficiency needs to improve, and consumers need to shift their choice to low footprint products,” said Dr. Li Lin, leader of WWF’s China for a Global Shift Initiative.

China partially covers its deficit by importing biological capacity from other nations, the report said. In 2003, China imported 130 million global hectares of natural resources to support its 1.3 billion population, nearly equivalent to the entire biological capacity of Germany.

An analysis of selected traded products suggests that China often imports raw materials from countries such as Canada, Indonesia, and the United States, and often exports biocapacity embodied in manufactured products to countries such as South Korea, Japan, the United States, and Australia.

The report cautions that the populations of more than 10 flagship and keystone species in China have undergone severe decline since the 1960s, peaking between the 1960s and 1980s. These species include the Yangtze river dolphin, the giant panda, and the Amur tiger. The giant panda’s population, however, has recovered gradually because of greater conservation efforts.

“China is at a turning point. The choices China makes today regarding consumption, production, investment and trade, and in managing its natural capital, will determine the country’s future,” said WWF International Director General Jim Leape.

“China is now the world’s second largest economy: choosing a sustainable development path is essential to China’s ecological security and its people’s wellbeing, but will also have a critical influence on global sustainable development.”

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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine. Source: WWF China.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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