Meanwhile, counting down...

Living Planet / Dying Planet. The Living Planet Index out today according to the Independent, "shows the devastating impact of humanity as biodiversity has plummeted by almost a third in the 35 years to 2005.The report, produced by WWF, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network, says land species have declined by 25 per cent, marine life by 28 per cent, and freshwater species by 29 per cent".

It is not just evolution in action, as we are losing species at such a rate that we are cutting out the survival options that genetic diversity provides for humanity. Conserving vast chunks of natural habitat, so that ecoystem services survive, cleaning up and restoring the oceans - these we could do, but are we up for the challenge? Or, just like the last Easter Islander cutting down the last tree, will the last person on earth still be pouring fossil fuel into a Ferrari?