Human's Activities Threaten Earth's Future
Posted on March 31, 2005
An alarming survey, called The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, reveals that approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth - such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests - are being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn that the harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years. A BBC article on the survey begins, "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 survey follows recent terrifying news about global warming and pollution. Reuters reports on recent research that found, "Even if people stopped pumping out carbon dioxide and other pollutants tomorrow, global warming would still get worse."
These same researchers also said, "The longer we wait, the more climate change we are committed to in the future." And a recent dramatic photograph of Mount Mount Kilimanjaro offered blunt proof of global warming. The photograph shows the famous snow cap on the mountain has nearly melted away.