El Sorpasso medioambiental

Abstract

Man’s technical capacity has exceeded the erosive, transport and sedimentation power of rivers, glaciers and wind in the emergent part of the Earth devoid of ice: 30,400 million tons (Mt) compared to 24,500 Mt due to natural processes. The new sedimentary system - quarries, motorways, cities - has displaced the natural one - drainage basin, streams, deltas. The Earth’s annual ecological budget gets used up earlier every time: in 2019 it has run out by the end of July. To reverse the course taken by the Earth, in addition to Daly’s postulates, a drastic reduction of energy and consumer goods demand is advocated, as well as a higher efficiency in the distribution chain and in food consumption (one third is lost every year). Civic education, the empowerment of women, and a voluntary decrease in consumption, or austerity - especially in more developed countries - are necessary. The text of the Laudato Si and the new emergent movements both in Africa (Ubuntu) and South America (Sumak Kawsay) point to possible ways out of the hegemonic model based on disposable consumption, promoted by the developed Western world. A circular economy must urgently be put in place. Unless humanity takes a big step forward, there will be an irreversible sorpasso.