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<\/p>\nIn the wake of the stunning Brexit vote results, we ask, what does it take to the support the UK\u2019s demand for natural resources? Consider this:<\/p>\n
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The UK\u2019s forest land only covers 3%<\/b> of UK resident\u2019s demand for forest products and carbon emissions sequestration. Carbon emissions from fossil fuel use make up 63 percent of the UK\u2019s overall demand for nature, or its Ecological Footprint.<\/p>\n
If the UK used all of its forests for forest products only (and nothing for carbon sequestration), they would meet only 27%<\/b> of UK residents\u2019 demand for forest products, including timber for building and paper. This means that nearly three-quarter of the UK\u2019s demand for forest products is met by other countries.<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s grazing lands meet only 42%<\/b> of UK residents\u2019 demand for grazing products \u2013 primarily meat and dairy. More than half of the demand is met by resources beyond its borders.<\/p>\n
The UK covers 72%<\/b> of its demand for crops with resources within its borders. In other words, it is relying on the resources of other countries to meet more than one quarter (28%) of its citizens demands for crops.<\/p>\n
Overall, the UK requires 3.8 times more than what the UK\u2019s ecosystems can renew including the sequestration of carbon from fossil fuel use. If all fossil carbon was magically sequestered, the UK would still require 1.4 UKs to meet its citizens\u2019 remaining demand, leaving no space for wild species inhabiting the UK.<\/p>\n
Even after the vote, the UK is far from independent. It seems that the Brits may be underestimating their reliance on the rest of the world to meet their demand for natural resources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the wake of the stunning Brexit vote results, we ask, what does it take to the support the UK\u2019s demand for natural resources? Consider this: The UK\u2019s forest land only covers 3% of UK resident\u2019s demand for forest products and carbon emissions sequestration. Carbon emissions from fossil fuel use make up 63 percent of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"categories":[12],"tags":[102],"class_list":["post-6851","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-blog","tag-country"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n