Landmark report urges new approach to stem widespread decline in world's ecosystems BERGEN, Norway, September 15, 2000 -- A landmark assessment released today during a meeting of the world's top environment officials called for a new approach to managing ecosystems in order to stem the widespread decline of the processes that sustain life on earth. "Every measure used by scientists to assess the health of the world's ecosystems tells us that we are drawing on them more than ever and degrading them at an accelerating pace," said Dr. Klaus T�pfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. "We depend on ecosystems to sustain us, and their continued good health depends, in turn, on how we take care of them." The report, World Resources 2000-2001: People and Ecosystems, The Fraying Web of Life, was released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNEP, the World Bank and the World Resources Institute (WRI). Over 175 scientists contributed to this global research effort, which took more than two years to complete. http://www.wri.org/wr2000/wr2000-nr02.html ----------------------- Pollution and waste increasing in five countries despite more efficient use of resources WASHINGTON, DC, September 20, 2000 � A new report released today by the World Resources Institute (WRI) reveals that the total output of wastes and pollutants in Austria, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA has increased by as much as 28 percent since 1975 despite their increasing efficiency in using natural resources. The report also reveals that from one-half to three-quarters of the annual resource inputs used in these five countries are returned to the environment as wastes within one year. "The resource efficiency gains brought about by the rise of e-commerce and the shift from heavy industries toward knowledge- and service-based industries have been more than offset by the tremendous scale of economic growth and consumer choices that favor energy- and material-intensive lifestyles," said Emily Matthews of WRI and lead author of The weight of nations: Material outflows from industrial economies http://www.wri.org/press/weightofnations.html --------------------------------------- Trial by fire: Forest fires and forestry policy in Indonesia's era of crisis and reform http://www.wri.org/forests/trialbyfire.html _______________________________________________ Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
