The past two weeks saw the release of three important studies: (1) The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its annual ‘Living Planet Report’ stating that global ecosystems face collapse by 2050 unless resource use is significantly altered. (2) Sir Nicholas Stern’s report, ‘The Economics of Climate Change’, predicts that the global economy will face crisis on par with the Great Depression by 2050 if nothing is done to mitigate climate change. (3) Finally, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) predicts in a study published by the journal Science that the seafood species in the world’s oceans will collapse by 2050.

The WWF uses the Living Planet Index to measure the relative health of global ecosystems. The report found that since 1970, terrestrial species have declined an average of 30% worldwide. The report highlighted that counties attempting to achieve high development are not pursuing sustainable development. The opposite is true, high development leads to over-consumption. Another indicator, the Ecological Footprint, measures the rate of over-consumption in a country. Canada has the forth-largest Ecological Footprint in the world.

The ‘Economics of Climate Change’ stated that by 2050, 5% to 20% of global GDP would be required to deal with the effects of climate change if nothing is done now. The report also predicted that 200 million people would be displaced by rising sea levels and environmental disasters. The report suggested that if only 1% of global annual GDP was dedicated to mitigating climate change today, we could avert this crisis.

The NSF stated that growing populations combined with over-fishing, climate change and sewage dumping, would collapse global fisheries for food by 2050 unless the world’s oceans are protected. The report stressed protection of biodiversity and habitat recovery time. A glimmer of hope is that ocean ecosystems can repair from current levels, if business is significantly altered immediately.

All reports come to the same conclusion: if we do not alter our economy now, we will face severe consequences in about 40 years. If any one of the three predictions were realized, we will be in a serious crisis. If all three are realized, human society will be in jeopardy. Being ecologically aware is no longer about being an environmentalist; it is about being a philanthropist; it is about survival.

Dave Vasey is an Environmental Technologist who graduated from Durham College in 2001. Currently Dave is studying at the Faculty of Earth, Environment and Resources at the University of Manitoba.