According to new research, humans around the world are consuming far more natural resources than our planet can continue to sustain;this is leading most people to ecological poverty.When the researchers tried to estimate the number of natural resources for the year 2017, they found that Earth's global population (over 7.5 billion people) had already spent 173% of the world's total biocapacity that year.This is obviously a major overshoot, and part of the trend that has gotten much worse in recent decades.In 1980, humanity was using "only" 119% of the world's biocapacity.Much of the surge in demand for resources since the 1980s has been driven by richer nations demanding ever higher living standards (even if they have to buy resources from elsewhere).Today, nearly three-quarters of all people live in nations with below-average incomes and a scarcity of natural resources, meaning they simply cannot compete with richer nations.It is clear that the road we are on today cannot be walked forever.If the world is really serious about eradicating poverty then experts say it is not possible to continue to ignore the fact that the Earth's resources are limited.By dividing the countries of the world into four categories based on their gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and their local ecological deficit, the researchers highlighted an unsustainable shift in humanity's demand for resources.According to the study authors, if we do not seek to rapidly improve the security of resources - through their conservation and restoration, cuts to fossil fuels, sustainable development and changing consumption patterns - our natural capital will not be able to to recover and our hope for a more equal future will be completely compromised.The researchers found that in 1980, 57% of the global population lived in a country with the "double curse" of a below average income and a deficit of biological resources.In 2017, that number jumped to 72%.On the other hand, the higher-income countries with resource deficits represent only 14% of the world population, but this minority requires an astonishing 52% of our planet's biocapacity.Switzerland and Singapore are two major nations that fall into the latter category, which means they are unaffected by resource insecurity as they have the money to buy what they need from elsewhere.To live truly sustainably, scientists argue that we should use no more than half the capacity of our planet's resources.If everyone in the world lived like higher-income people (eg low-resource countries like Switzerland) we would need about 3.67 Earth planets to meet global demand."If the development models of these cities or territories are not replicable, there is only one way for these entities to avoid their own disappearance: they must be certain that they can financially outclass all other countries on this planet forever in order to guarantee one's own metabolism of resources, ”the study authors write.Stay informed with our newsletter I agree to the processing of my data according to the GDPR I sign up"Using this strategy to be successful in sourcing resources is precarious for regions at any income level."But this approach is particularly dangerous for low-income regions that cannot compete for resources at the same level.Without the assistance of the wealthiest nations there is really not much for these nations to do.Indeed, the researchers argue that low-income countries currently have no way out.Continuing with the status quo will undoubtedly worsen the current resource crisis of these low-income countries.Unfortunately, making rapid changes in the consumption of human resources will also cost a lot of money that many simply cannot afford.Furthermore, as richer nations consume far more resources than absolutely necessary to live, they have much more room to maneuver in the face of future disaster.In an economic recession, for example, a loss of resources is not as catastrophic for Spain as it would be for Niger or Kenya, where such a rapid loss could erode food and energy security for many more people by putting their lives at risk. same life."This paper strengthens the case where the security of biological resources is a much more influential factor contributing to lasting development success than most economic development theories and practices describe," the authors conclude, "and shows how much this aspect affects different human populations in an uneven way ».Clearly, we are spending more than our planet can afford.The study was published in Nature Sustainability.The magazine / Privacy Policy / Cookie / Impressum / Acknowledgments / Contacts / rss © 2000-2022 LSWN.it Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license - (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) - ISSN 1827-8922