The Environment & the Developing World

MDG Goal #7

Ensure Environmental Sustainability Target 7a: Integrate the principles

of sustainable development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources

How to Measure?

Target 7a and 7b Indicators:

7.1 Proportion of land area covered by forest 7.2 CO2 emissions, total, per capita and per $1 GDP

(PPP) 7.3 Consumption of ozone-depleting substances 7.4 Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits 7.5 Proportion of total water resources used 7.6 Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected 7.7 Proportion of species threatened with extinction

Facts about Deforestation

Forests still cover about 30 percent of the world’s land area.

The amount of forests lost each year is equal to the size of Panama

At the current rate, rain forests may completely vanish in 100 years.

70% of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests

Why Deforestation?

Agriculture- farmers need room to grow crops and for livestock to graze

Logging-Wood for products including paper, access roads to woods. Often illegal

Wildfires- Natural Cause Urban Sprawl- Needed for housing and development

Rates of Deforestation in Borneo

Progress?

The rate of deforestation shows signs of

decreasing, but is still alarmingly high

1990’s: 16 million hectares converted to other uses.

2008: 13 million hectares converted to other uses.

Progress?

South America and Africa largest net losses of forests, at 4 million and 3.4 million hectares per year

Asia registered a net gain of some 2.2 million hectares annually.

China, India and Viet Nam expanded their forest area by 4 million hectares in last 5 years

CO2 Emissions 1990 & 2007

In 2007,global CO2Emissions increasedBy 3.2%

Why?

Growth of Middle Class in China and India.

From

TO

As of 2010 the loss of biodiversity continues—unrelentingly.

Nearly 17,000 species of plants and animals are known to be threatened with extinction.

Major drivers of biodiversity loss include: high rates of consumption, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and climate change

So what?

Progress?

In 2008 only half of the world’s 821 terrestrial ecoregions—had more than 10 per cent of their area protected.

Overexploitation of global fisheries has stabilized,

Endangered animals for medicine/food/accessories

Rhino horn used to treat fever Elephants for Ivory Endangered seal penis as aphrodisiac Eating of gorillas in DRC Endangered bluefin tuna in Japanese

Sushi Whales as delicacies Tiger meat for virility

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Target 7c: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

How to measure7.8 Proportion of population using an improved

drinking water source7.9 Proportion of population using an improved

sanitation facility

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Target 7d: Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020

How to Measure?7.10 Proportion of urban population

living in slums