According to WWF's ‘Living Planet Report’, the world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world's natural capital reach nearly a third more than what the planet can sustain. If our demands on the planet continue to increase at the current rate, by the mid-2030s we would need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles. In celebration of World Environment Day, which was established by the United Nations in 1972, WWF is calling on people to “Boost Earth’s Vitality” by organising an event at Citywalk in Tsuen Wan, on 5 and 6 June. The event, which will include exhibition panels and hands-on activities, will enable the public to learn more about the concept of our Ecological Footprint, to learn how to reduce our impact on the environment, and to examine issue areas of climate, oceans and forests.

At 2pm today, Dr Kitty Poon, JP, Under Secretary for the Environment, Environment Bureau; celebrity Ms Kay Tse, WWF campaign ambassador and Dr Andy Cornish, Director of Conservation, WWF-Hong Kong, will be officiating at the kick-off ceremony for the ‘Boost Earth's Vitality’ event. Ms Tse and Dr Cornish will be invited to ride on the custom-made cardio bikes equipped with ‘dynamo’. The kinetic energy generated can be converted into electrical energy to drive the air compressor and inflate the giant ‘water drop’ balloon, symbolizing our oceans. Through inflating three giant balloons, representing the issue areas Climate, Ocean and Forest at the event, WWF is encouraging individuals to make small changes in daily life to reduce their ecological footprint and to ‘boost Earth’s vitality’ for a sustainable future. Since the balloons are inflated by electricity generated from a clean-energy source instead of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide emissions are avoided.

The newly appointed WWF Ambassador, Ms Kay Tse, will also share her tips on sustainable living at the kick-off ceremony.

Everyone needs natural resources, as well as land and water, and the environment must be able to absorb the waste we produce. Our Ecological footprint measures humans' demand on the Earth's available ecological resources, at the individual, community, business, city or national level. Hong Kong's per capita Ecological Footprint in 2005 ranked 29th highest when compared to the Footprints of the 150 countries in the world with populations greater than one million.

Dr Andy Cornish urges Hong Kong people to reduce our footprint by increasing efficiency and reducing consumption. “Although Hong Kong is small geographically, Hong Kong’s ecological footprint was more than double what should be available to each person on Earth. To put this in figures, we need an area of land and sea 250 times greater than the size of Hong Kong to produce the natural resources we consume, and to absorb the carbon dioxide we are responsible for emitting.”

Says Dr Cornish: “Today is World Environment Day, and on behalf of WWF, I am calling on all Hong Kong citizens to join us to “Boost Earth's Vitality” — and to understand the importance of minimizing our ecological footprint, as well as reducing our consumption of the planet’s resources to a sustainable level. We can adopt sustainable lifestyles today by choosing sustainable seafood, using timber and paper products from sustainable sources, and reducing carbon emissions. “

Dr Kitty Poon says: “If every Hong Kong citizen can take actions in their daily life by saving energy and reducing waste in 'food', 'clothing', 'housing' to 'transportation', we can all contribute to a better environment for our next generation."

All paper materials used in this event are FSC-certified. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label ensures timber products come from sustainable, well-managed, forests. WWF will also purchase Carbon Credits to offset emissions for this event.

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Hong Kong people consume 250 times the territory’s land and sea area Let’s “Boost Earth’s Vitality” on World Environment Day