Running Low

File this one under "Although wealthier countries won't be affected as soon as less developed nations, we're very pleased we'll probably be contributing to an increase in soil by 2050." (Unless we're cremated, adding to the carbon problem.)

The air is filthy, water is drying up & will be placed under the protection of private interests, & now we're running out of soil.

Each year, 12 million hectares of land, where 20 million tonnes of grain could have been grown, are lost to land degradation. In the past 40 years, 30 percent of the planet's arable (food-producing) land has become unproductive due to erosion. Unless this trend is reversed soon, feeding the world's growing population will be impossible.

The world will likely need "60 percent more food calories in 2050 than in 2006", according to a paper released on May 30 by the World Resources Institute. Reaching this goal while maintaining economic growth and environmental sustainability is one of the most important global challenges of our time, it concludes.

Urban development is a growing factor in loss of arable lands. One million city dwellers occupy 40,000 hectares of land on average, said Rattan Lal of Ohio State University.

Ploughing, removal of crop residues after harvest, and overgrazing all leave soil naked and vulnerable to wind and rain, resulting in gradual, often unnoticed erosion of soil. This is like tire wear on your car - unless given the attention and respect it deserves, catastrophe is only a matter of time.

Hold your breath & stop wasting what little atmosphere we have.