Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 15:48:06 +0300
From: Beth.Ingraham@UNEP.ORG
Subject: GEO-2000
Courier New
Greetings Colleagues,
Excuse any cross-postings. Please disseminate the
following Press Release. Thank you in advance for your
kind interest and assistance.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Embargoed until: 10:00 am GMT 15 September 1999<=
param>Times New Roman
"OUR PRESENT COURSE IS UNSUSTAINABLE -
POSTPONING ACTION IS NO LONGER AN OPTION"
UNEP LAUNCHES DEFINITIVE STUDY OF GLOBAL ENVIRON=
MENTAL CRISIS
NAIROBI, 15 September 1999 - Today, the United Nation=
s Environment
Programme (UNEP) launches its Global Environment Outlook 2000 (GEO-2000)
report - the most authoritative assessment ever of the environmental cri=
sis facing
humanity in the new millennium.
Based on contributions from UN agencies, 850 individuals and =
more than 30
environmental institutes, GEO-2000 outlines progress in tackling existing=
problems and points to serious new threats. It concludes by setting out=
recommendations for immediate, integrated action.
GEO-2000 analyses both global and regional issues. Its key fin=
ding is that:
"The continued poverty of the majority of the planet's inhabitants and
excessive consumption by the minority are the two major causes of
environmental degradation. The present course is unsustainable and
postponing action is no longer an option."
"Despite successes on various fronts, time for a rationa=
l, well-
planned transition to a sustainable system is running out fast", says
Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director. "In some areas, it has
already run out. In others, new problems are emerging which
compound already difficult situations.
"UNEP welcomes the trend towards increased public concern
for the environment. Until recently, few individuals cared about or
even knew of the environmental issues facing the planet. Today,
popular movements in many countries are forcing authorities to
make changes," says Toepfer.
According to GEO-2000, full-scale emergencies now exist =
in a number of
fields. The world water cycle seems unlikely to be able to cope with
demands in the coming decades, land degradation has negated many
advances made by increased agricultural productivity, air pollution is a=
t crisis
point in many major cities and global warming now seems inevitable.
Tropical forests and marine fisheries have been over-exploited =
while
numerous plant and animal species and extensive stretches of coral reefs=
will be lost for ever - due to inadequate policy responses.
In a survey conducted by the Scientific Committee on Problems o=
f the
Environment for GEO-2000, 200 scientists in 50 countries identified wate=
r
shortage and global warming as the two most worrying problems for the ne=
w
millennium. Desertification and deforestation at national and regional =
levels
was also a frequently cited concern.
While most issues raised by the survey are well-known, GEO-2000=
also
identifies new threats such as:
- nitrogen's harmful impact on ecosystems
- increased severity of natural disasters
- species invasion as a result of globalization
- increased environmental pressures caused by
urbanization
- decline in the quality of governance in some
countries
- new wars which impact on both the immediate environment
and neighbouring states
- the impact of refugees on the natural
environment
At the core of GEO-2000's recommendations is a reinforcement of=
Agenda
21's call for environmental integration. "The environment remains large=
ly
outside the mainstream of everyday human consciousness and is still
considered an add-on to the fabric of life", says GEO-2000.
Institutions such as treasuries, central banks, planning depart=
ments and trade
bodies frequently ignore sustainability questions in favour of short-ter=
m
economic options. "Integration of environmental thinking into the
mainstream of decision-making relating to agriculture, trade, investment=
,
research and development, infrastructure and finance is now the best cha=
nce
for effective action," says GEO-2000.
National Governments, international organizations, the private =
sector,
community groups, NGOs and ordinary citizens all have a role to play in
putting the environment at the forefront of the political agenda, says G=
EO-
2000. "Environmental education, like mathematics, (should be) part of t=
he
standard educational curriculum," says GEO- 2000, adding that we must
"encourage the media to devote as much attention to environmental issues=
as
they do to crime, politics, sport and finance."
GEO-2000 was edited by Robin Clarke - and published by EARTHSCA=
N
Publications on behalf of UNEP. E-mail earthinfo@earthscan.co.=
uk
Telephone: +44-171 2780433; Fax: +44-171 2781142. It is available from =
Earthscan at a cost of =A320 or US$40. It is also accessible on
http://www.unep.org/geo2000
For more information, please contact: Marion Chea=
tle, Officer-in-
Charge, State of the Environment Assessment Unit, Division of Environmenta=
l
Information, Assessment & Early Warning (DEIA&EW). UNEP, P.O.
Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel.: (254-2) 62-3520, Fax: (254-2) 623944=
; or
Tore J. Brevik, UNEP Spokesman and Director of Information,
Communications and Public Information (CPI), P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi,
Kenya. Tel: (254-2) 623292; Fax: 623297; or Daniel van R. Claasen,
Officer-in-Charge, UNEP- DEIA&EW, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone: (254-2) 621234: Fax (254-2) 623943/44; Email: geo@unep.org
ARIALFor a link FROM the press release TO the G=
EO-2000 web site, and
mirror sites please contact the any of the below sites.
Japan: 0000,8000,0000http://www-cger.nie=
s.go.jp/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
Kenya: 0000,8000,0000http://www.une=
p.org/unep/eia/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
Mexico: 0000,8000,0000http://www.ro=
lac.unep.mx/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
Norway: 0000,8000,0000http://www.gr=
ida.no/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
Switzerland: 0000,8000,0000http://w=
ww.grid.unep.ch/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
United States: 0000,8000,0000http:/=
/grid2.cr.usgs.gov/geo2000/0000,0000,0000
Times New RomanUNEP News Relea=
se NR99/102
###ARIAL
Ms. Beth Ingraham, Information Officer
INFOTERRA-Secretariat
The Global Environmental Information Exchange Network
Division of Environmental Information and Assessment
United Nations Environment Programme
P.O. Box 30552
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (254-2) 624299 or 623273
Fax: (254-2) 624269
Email: beth.ingraham@unep.org or infotinf@unep.org
Web: www.unep.org