500 years of trashing the planet - time to turn things around

Mike Childs

25 April 2013

I've just read historian Stephen Mosley's book The Environment in World History, which reveals how human degradation of the natural world is not a new phenomenon; in fact huge amounts of environmental damage occurred centuries ago, long before the global population boom and the development of modern technology.

I found it a fascinating read.

Did you know:

• A quarter of deforestation had happened by 1700, and three quarters by 1915. Plato lamented that where once there had been 'an abundance of wood in the mountains' only 'the mere skeleton of the land remained'. In past centuries there was a huge demand for wood. It was seen as a key strategic resource, much like fossil fuels today. In the 19th century, for example, Britain went to war with Burma three times to secure access to teak forests.
• A quarter of the land-based vertebrates that have been 'lost' were gone by 1790. Half were gone by 1880. Commercial hunting for furs and feathers - partly driven by fashion - was a big factor. Demand for whale products was so intense that by 1900 the industry was in decline due to falling whale populations. Until, that is, new technology 'rescued' the industry and enabled hunting of hitherto uncatchable species such as Antarctic humpback and blue whales. Agricultural expansion and sport hunting also had a significant impact on biodiversity.
• Soil degradation is thought to be behind the reasons for the decline in ancient civilisations such as the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and Harrapan in the Indus Valley. The Sumerians wrote how their lands turned white - due to salinisation - and how lands had to be abandoned. From the 15th century, European settlers in the new world practiced European-style agriculture on unsuitable soils -  one of the "worst 'ecological blunders' in world history" says Mosley.

Today, we see evidence of deforestation, species loss and soil degradation continuing apace. This is worsening problems like climate change and loss of farmland, leading to millions of people going hungry. A rapidly growing population is also exacerbating pressures on our world's limited natural resources.

As Mosley's book shows, these are not new problems. So what next?

We know we need to protect the planet we all depend on and that will mean changes to how we live and work. Mosley identifies lifestyle changes such as curbing our 'throwaway' culture, reducing energy use, eating less meat and making fewer car and plane journeys. Easily said, not necessarily easily achieved.

He says that, "unless environmental considerations begin to take precedence over material growth, we risk pushing the earth's ecosystems beyond their limits." Spot-on.

Friends of the Earth's three-year Big Ideas Change the World research project is looking at what needs to change to focus some of humanity's amazing abilities - to be collaborative, ingenious, and empathetic - on solving the environmental and social challenges we face and building a brighter future for everyone. I'll be updating you on where we've got to soon.