We have plundered planet’s natural capital

NOW that the global economy is in freefall it seems reasonable to many that saving the planet should take second place on our Government’s list of priorities.

However, it is surprising that none of the commentary to date has sought to link the two crises.

After all, the words “economy” and “ecology” share a common root, suggesting the environment is just as much about checks and balances as our financial systems. We would need a number of planet earths to sustain our present lifestyles. Driven by overconsumption of the earth’s natural capital, our resource-hungry ways have accumulated a massive debt which can be tallied by a warming climate, the extinction of species and an emptying of the oceans. Have we reached the point where, as a civilisation, we have maxed out our visa?

Is it sensible to hope for greater consumer spending, ie, more resource consumption, as a way out of our slump?

Having completely felled our forests, drained our wetlands, polluted our waterways and revelled in our riches, we Irish are now living off a tab that others will have to settle.

The option to live more sustainable lifestyles is being made for us — our only choice is how easy we want to make that transition on ourselves.

Pádraic Fogarty

Chairman

Irish Wildlife Trust

Sigmund Business Centre

93A Lagan Road

Dublin Industrial Estate

Glasnevin

Dublin 11