We must find ways to live smarter, envoy says

UNITED States Ambassador Catherine Ebert-Gray says people around the world are consuming far more natural resources than the planet can actually sustain.
She said during World Environment Day on Friday in Lae that many of the earth’s ecosystems were nearing a tipping point of depletion and irreversible change which had been pushed by population growth and economic development.
The event, organised by Coca Cola Amatil staff in Lae, saw planting of nine trees.
Ebert-Gray said if current consumption and production patterns remained and the world population reached the projected 9.6 billion in 2050, additional planets would be needed to sustain the human way of life.
“We must find ways to live smarter and be more sustainable and focused on managing earth’s biodiversity,” she said.
She said the booming illegal trade in wildlife products was robbing natural heritage and driving species to the brink of extinction.
“Huge efforts to counter the illicit trade must begin. We must have stronger policies, awareness campaigns and investments in community conservations,” she said.
“Law enforcement had been successful in stopping the flow of contraband, but more must be done.
“We must change our habits, we must change our behaviour so that demand for illegal wildlife products continues to fall.”