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