WWF-Indonesia Tel : +62 21 7829461 Gedung Graha Simatupang Fax: +62 21 7829462 Tower 2C Lt.7-11 www.wwf.or.id Jl. TB Simatupang Kav.38 Jakarta Selatan 12540 Indonesia PRESS RELEASE 10 October 2014 Transformation on Production and consumption is a must to halt Indonesia’s Ecological footprint Jakarta – Following the global launch of the Living Planet Report (LPR) 2014 in Geneva on 30 September 2014, Director General WWF International Dr Marco Lambertini presented the Living Planet Report 2014 today (10/10) in Erasmus Huis. The event was attended by Head of Indonesia REDD+ Agency Heru Prasetyo, and representative of Jokowi-JK’s Transition House Anies Baswedan, amongst representatives from government, businesses, international organization and NGOs. The biennial report is the world's leading, science-based analysis on the health of our planet –the only home in the universe– and the impact of human activity. LPR 2014 updates the trend of the Living Planet Index (LPI), Ecological Footprint – a measure of humanity's demands on nature – and Earth’s biocapacity. Human demands on the planet as has been reported in the previous LPRs is still more than 50 per cent larger than what nature can renew, meaning it would take 1.5 Earths to produce the resources required to support our current Ecological Footprint. “It is essential that we produce and consume within the natural boundaries of our one planet,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. “We must use the findings of WWF’s report to reduce our footprint, promote equitable human development and conserve our natural systems. Human societies require a switch to a more balanced relationship with nature and our economies demand it.” The Ecological Footprint adds up how much biologically productive land and water an individual, population or activity requires to produce all the resources it consumes, and to absorb the waste it generates, using prevailing technology and resource management practices. It compares the biologically productive area (or biocapacity) needs for crops, grazing land, built-up areas, fishing grounds and forest products, and also includes the area of forest needed to absorb additional CO2 emissions that cannot be absorbed by the oceans. Unsustainable footprint threatens natural systems and human well-being, but there is always a better choice for us toward actions to reverse current trends. As example, urban areas worldwide are responsible for more than 70 per cent of the planet's energy-related carbon emissions, but they also have the potential to become centres of renewable energy production and energy efficiency. “Indonesia is one of the top 10 countries accounting for more than 60 per cent of the Earth’s total biocapacity in 2010. While, Indonesia’s ecological footprint is still below world average biocapacity per person of 1.7 gha,” said CEO of WWF-Indonesia, Dr. Efransjah. “However, if we do not change our production and consumption trends, the escalation of Indonesia’s Ecological Footprint beyond our national biocapacity is inevitable in the next 5 years. We have the power to make wiser choices to relieve pressure and avoid unsustainable footprint,” added Dr. Efransjah. For a country, to achieve globally sustainable development, it must have per capita Ecological Footprint smaller than per capita biocapacity available on the planet, while maintaining a decent standard of living. According to the LPR 2014, delinking the relationship between footprint and development is a key challenge. Research presented in the report shows that it is possible to increase living standards while restraining resource use. The report serves as a platform for dialogue, decision-making and action for governments, businesses and civil society at a critical time for the planet. -o0oNote for Editors:    The complete report, summary and support material can be accessed at http://bit.ly/lprwwf2014. The report includes WWF's “One Planet Perspective” with strategies to preserve, produce and consume more wisely. It also includes examples of how communities throughout Asia are already making better choices to reduce Ecological Footprint and reverse biodiversity loss. The Living Planet Report 2014 is the tenth edition of WWF's biennial flagship publication. The report has been produced in collaboration with Global Footprint Network (GFN). Water Footprint Network and Zoological Society of London (ZSL). For more information, please contact: Budi Wardhana, Director of Policy, Sustainability and Transformation, WWF-Indonesia Email: [email protected], Hp: +62 857 1535 3990 About WWF-Indonesia WWF Indonesia is the largest conservation organization in Indonesia and has begun its activities since 1962. This independent foundation has been registered under Indonesian law since 1998. In total WWF-Indonesia has 28 field offices encompassing areas from Aceh to Papua, supported by more than 400 staff. Since 2006, WWF-Indonesia has been supported by more than 54,000 supporters spread all over Indonesia. More info, visit www.wwf.or.id. 2