{"id":8067,"date":"2015-03-17T01:01:17","date_gmt":"2015-03-17T01:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/footprintnetwork.org\/?p=8067\/"},"modified":"2017-01-19T22:36:32","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T22:36:32","slug":"china-worlds-largest-contributor-annual-growth-natural-resource-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.footprintnetwork.org\/2015\/03\/17\/china-worlds-largest-contributor-annual-growth-natural-resource-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"China Is the World’s Largest Contributor to Annual Growth in Natural Resource Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"

OAKLAND, CA, USA<\/strong>\u2014China is the world’s largest contributor to annual growth in the demand for ecological resources and services and has been for the last five years for which data is available, according to Global Footprint Network, a leading expert in natural resource accounting.<\/p>\n

The Ecological Footprint of the world\u2014a measure of people\u2019s demand on nature\u2014has begun climbing again after experiencing a 2.1 percent decline in 2009 during the recession, according to Global Footprint Network\u2019s 2015 Edition of the National Footprint Accounts, released today. The world\u2019s Ecological Footprint increased nearly 4 percent in 2010 and nearly 1.7 percent in 2011 (the latest year data is available).<\/p>\n

However, excluding China, the world\u2019s Ecological Footprint increased far less in 2011: 0.9 percent. The Ecological Footprint of China climbed 3.6% in 2010 and 5.2% in 2011.<\/p>\n

While the Ecological Footprints of many countries declined during the recession, including the United States and Germany, the Ecological Footprints of China and India, the world\u2019s two most populous countries, continued to rise and now comprise about one quarter of the Ecological Footprint of the entire world.<\/p>\n

Still, the Ecological Footprints per person of both China and India remain far lower than that of many high-income countries. For example, the Ecological Footprint per person of the United States is more than seven times higher than that of India and nearly three times that of China.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

In the past six months, both China and India have announced steps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which would decrease their Ecological Footprints. China, in particular, has invested substantially in renewable energy, and its decades-long focus on reducing fertility has also helped preserve its biocapacity per person. But more recent news that China\u2019s annual GDP growth should remain at 7 percent for the years to come suggests its Ecological Footprint will continue on an upward trajectory.<\/p>\n

“In addition to recognizing the importance of indicators like GDP, unemployment or inflation, we look forward to the day when national decision-makers around the world also track their resource dependence. I hope they recognize that natural resources are a fundamental asset for any economy. They should be measured and managed wisely,” says Global Footprint Network President Mathis Wackernagel.<\/p>\n

“We believe it is not only critical but also possible to live within the means of nature. It can be achieved without sacrificing current human well-being.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n