33146 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS December 9, 1980 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE GLOBAL 2000 REPORT: A One important conclusion reached by CROPLAND RECONNAISSANCE OF THE those of us who worked on the Report is The pressures of population and growing FUTURE that the conflict between development and human needs and expectations will place in­ environmental protection is often misunder­ creasing strains on the Earth's natural sys­ stood and is, in significant part, a myth. tems and resources. The spread of desert­ HON. JOHN F. SEIBERLING Many of the pressures on renewable natural like conditions from human activities now OF OHIO resources noted in the Report are the result claims an area about the size of Maine each IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of the desperate struggle of poverty-stricken year. Croplands are lost to production as peoples to stay alive; thus the key to easing soils deteriorate because of erosion, compac­ Tuesday, December 9, 1980 these pressures is to improve the conditions tion, and waterlogging and salinization on e Mr. SEIBERLING. Mr. Speaker, as of the earth's poor through sustainable eco­ irrigated lands. Meanwhile, cropland in the president of the Peace Through Law nomic development, which requires, among United States and other industrialized coun­ Education Fund, I take great pleasure other things, sound resource management, tries is being converted rapidly to other environmental protection, and family plan­ uses-residential development, highways, in inserting into the REcoRD the re­ ning. Instead of being an obstacle to devel­ shopping centers, and reservoirs. In poorer marks of Mr. Gus Speth, Chairman of opment, protection of resources and envi­ countries as well, villages and cities are ex­ the Council of Environmental Quality. ronment is an essential aspect of develop­ panding at the expense of cropland. Mr. Speth was the speaker at the Oc­ ment. Many of the resource problems out­ ENERGY tober meeting of the food and popula­ lined in the Global 2000 Report stem from a The increases in world food production tion breakfast series sponsored by the lack of sound, sustainable development, and projected by the Report are based on con­ fund. will be effectively addressed only by eco­ tinued improvements in crop yields per acre, Mr. Speth has served as Chairman nomic progress. at the same rate of the record-breaking in­ of the Carter administration's Toxic I believe that the Global 2000 Report con­ creases of the post-World War II period. Substances Strategy Committee and fronts this nation and the other nations of These improvements depended heavily on as a member of the interagency groups the world with one of the most difficult energy-intensive technologies like fertilizer, challenges facing our planet during the next pesticides, fuel for tractors and power for ir­ which developed the administration's two decades-second only, perhaps, to the rigation. But the Report's projections show policies on solar energy, nuclear waste global arms race in importance. While the no relief from the world's tight energy situ­ management, and water conservation. United States can and must assume a strong ation. World oil production is expected to Before his appointment to CEQ, he leadership role in meeting this challenge, it level off by the 1990s. was a staff attorney for the Natural is clear that no one nation or group of na­ FORESTS Resources Defense Council, a public tions can cope with international problems The conversion of forested land to agricul­ interest group which he helped found of the magnitude described in this Report. tural use and the demand for fuelwood and in 1970. POPULATION forest products will continue to deplete the I commend his remarks to the atten­ The Report's projections point to contin­ world's forests. The Report estimates that tion of my colleagues: ued rapid population growth with world these forests are now disappearing at rates The Global 2000 Report is the first at­ population increasing from 4.5 billion today as high as 18-20 million hectares-an area tempt by the U.S. Government-or any gov­ to more than 6 billion by 2000. More people half the size of California-each year. As ernment-to make long-term quantitative will be added to the world's population each 'much as 40 percent of the remaining forests projections across the range of population, year in the year 2000 than today-about 100 in poor countries may be gone by 2000. Most resource and environmental concerns. Given million a year as compared with 75 million of the loss will be in tropical and subtropical the obvious limitations of such projections, today. Most of the additional people will areas. the Global 2000 Report can best be seen as live in the poorest countries, which will con­ GENETIC RESOURCES a reconnaissance of the future. tain about four-fifths of the human race by The loss of tropical forests, along with the The next 20 years will see an increasingly the end of the century. impact of pollution and other pressures on crowded world, containing more than 6 bil­ habitats, will cause massive destruction of lion human beings by 2000. It could be a INCOME the planet's genetic resource base. Between world in which growing numbers of people Unless other factors intervene, this plan­ 500,000 and 2 million plant and animal spe­ are suffering hunger and privation; where etary majority will see themselves growing cies-15 to 20 percent of all species on losses of croplands and forests are mounting worse off compared with those living in af­ Earth-could be extinguished by 2000. One­ while human numbers and needs for food, fluent nations. The income gap between half to two-thirds of the extinctions will fiber, and timber increase; where per capita rich and poor nations will widen, and the result from the clearing or degradation of supplies of fresh water, timber, and fish are per capita gross national product of the less­ tropical forests. This would constitute a diminished; where degradation of the developed countries will remain at generally massive loss of potentially valuable sources earth's air and water is accelerating; and low levels. In some areas-especially in parts of food, pharmaceutical chemicals, building where plant and animal species are vanish­ of Latin America and East Asia-income per materials, fuel sources and other irreplacea­ ing at rates without precedent. Even now, capita is expected to rise substantially. But ble resources. some 800 million people live in conditions of gross national product in the great populous WATER RESOURCES absolute poverty, their lives dominated by nations of South Asia-India, Bangladesh Deforestation will worsen severe regional hunger, ill health, and the absence of hope. and Pakistan-will be less than $200 per By 2000, if current policies remain un­ water shortages and the deterioration of capita <in 1975 dollars) by 2000, despite con­ water quality. Deforestation destabilizes changed, their number could grow to more siderable increases in production and na­ water supplies, aggravates water shortages than one billion. tional income in some of these countries. The effect of rapid population growth and in dry seasons and intensifies flooding, soil poverty on the productivity of renewable FOOD erosion and siltation of rivers and resources natural resource systems is certainly one of While the Report projects a 90 percent in­ in rainy seasons. Population growth alone the most troubling of the Study's findings. crease in overall world food production in will cause demands for water to at least We have become accustomed in recent years the 30 years from 1970 to 2000, a global per double from 1971 levels in nearly half of the to warnings about the need to conserve non­ capita increase of less than 15 percent is world. Competition for water could also ex­ renewable resources, which eventually must projected over the same period. Most of the acerbate international tensions. The Report run out. But the Global 2000 Report points per capita increase will go to countries that notes that 148 of the world's major river to serious stresses that threaten our renew­ are already comparatively well-fed. In basins are shared by two countries and 52 able resources as well. Even now, the earth's South Asia, the Middle East, and the poorer are shared by three to ten countries. "Long­ carrying capacity-the ability of biological countries of Africa, per capita food con­ standing conflicts over shared rivers • systems to meet human needs-is eroding. sumption will increase marginally at best, could easily intensify," the Report says. By 2000, matters could be considerably and in some areas may actually decline AIR QUALITY worse, if the trends toward progressive im­ below present inadequate levels. Real prices Industrial growth is likely to worsen air poverishment of the earth's environment of food are expected to double during the quality. Air pollution in some cities in less­ and renewable resource base continue. same 30-year period. developed countries is already far above e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. December 9, 1980 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 33147 levels considered safe by the World Health does what is necessary to address these represent in Indiana feel strongly Organization. Increased burning of fossil urgent problems. I would like to add at this about the need to bring interest rates fuels, especially coal, may contribute to acid point that I consider this assignment from down and keep them down, while at rain damage to lakes, plants and building the President to be the most important as­ materials and to the increasing concentra­ signment anyone in my position could have the same time controlling inflation.