Hundreds of experts from
around the world are warning that the failure to address persistent
environmental problems is putting all of humanity at risk, according
to an October report from the United Nations Environment Program.

The “Global Environment Outlook 4,” commonly known as GEO-4, is
the latest in UNEP’s series on the global environment and notes that
while much progress has been accomplished, issues such as climate
change and extinction of animal species threaten human well-being.
In fact, if leaders and communities don’t address such problems,
they could help reverse much of the environmental progress made so
far. The report, which is based on views from almost 400 scientists,
also noted that the human population is living “far beyond” its
means and that the “amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds
what is available.”

“To present to the world at this point a report that essentially
says that our response has been woefully inadequate is a very
sobering realization,” said Achim Steiner, UNEP’s executive
director, in a news release.

Of utmost importance is addressing climate change, which report
authors labeled a “global priority.” Global emissions of carbon
dioxide from fossil fuels -the major greenhouse gas contributing to
climate change — has increased by about a third since 1987, sending
the earth’s climate into a “state unparalleled in recent
prehistory,” the report stated. Among its many effects on human
health, warming temperatures stemming from climate change are
expected to worsen diseases such as malaria and diarrhea and reduce
many communities’ ability to produce enough food, especially in
developing nations.

Another focus of the report is the depletion of water and the
decline of water quality. Already, according to UNEP, 70 percent of
available water is used for irrigation, yet global goals for
defeating hunger call for doubling food production by 2050, which
could mean the “escalating burden of water demand will become
intolerable in water-scarce countries.” Threats to the planet’s
biodiversity — which provides many communities with food and
medicines — should also signal alarm,…

Tags: Environment, Health