As forests, wetlands, coral reefs and other major habitats are destroyed, species are being lost at 1,000 to 10,000 times the natural rate. We are destroying the world's fertile topsoil, even as the demand for food increases. At the current rate, half of all fertile soils will have been lost within 30 years. References Electricity from fossil fuels is an expensive and inefficient form of energy - around two thirds of the energy released from burning coal or oil in power stations is lost before it reaches your plug socket. At current rates of soil erosion, which is often caused by intensive agriculture, we will lose half of the world s fertile topsoil within 30 years.
Pests are increasingly resistant to chemicals.
You Save Energy and Money , Energy Saving Trust in association with Department of Environment Transport and the Regions, pg. In the most recent survey, just over half of respondents said they recycled paper on a regular basis, just under half recycled glass, and a third recycled cans. City dwellers in rich industrialised countries generate up to 100 times more refuse per person than city dwellers in developing countries. Recycling makes more sense for some materials than others. Goods that used to be long-term purchases are often now regarded as disposable.