WE will need another Earth by 2050 unless we start reducing our consumption of natural resources immediately, conservationists have warned.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has released its latest Living Planet Report, which shows that humans are consuming 20 per cent more natural resources than what is available.
The report's Living Planet Index reveals that the health of the planet is deteriorating at a rapid rate - the population of freshwater species has plummeted by 50 per cent from 1997 to 2000, while both terrestrial and marine species have diminished by 30 per cent during the same period.
Another index, Ecological Footprint, which measures the pressure on Earth resulting from the exploitation of natural resources by humans, shows each person on this planet needs 2.2 hectares of land to meet their demands but only 1.8 hectares are available.
'We are taking more than the Earth can provide,' said Alan Leung, senior conversation officer at WWF Hong Kong.
'A previous report shows each person in Hong Kong needed 4.3 hectares of land for resources. If the situation remains unchanged, we will need at least 100 times the existing land and sea area of Hong Kong to survive. We can [save the Earth] by choosing green or renewable products and not wasting natural resources.