According to latest projections, the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050. The equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.
93 per cent of the world’s 250 largest companies are now reporting on sustain-ability.
-Less than 3 percent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5 per cent is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and -glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5 per cent for all of man’s ecosystems and freshwater needs. -Humankind is polluting water in rivers and lakes faster than nature can recycle and purify -Agricul-ture (including irrigation, livestock and aquaculture) is by far the largest water consumer, accounting for 69per cent of annual water withdrawals globally. Industry (including power generation) accounts for 19per cent and households for 12per cent.
Despite technological advances that have promoted energy efficiency gains, energy use in OECD countries will continue to grow another 35 percent by 2020. Commercial and residential energy use is the second most rapidly growing area of global energy use after transport. In 2002 the motor vehicle stock in OECD countries was 550 million vehicles (75 percent of which were personal cars). A 32 percent increase in vehicle ownership is expected by 2020. At the same time, motor vehicle kilometers are projected to increase by 40 percent and global air travel is projected to triple in the same period.
