Human activities threaten the Earth's ability to sustain future generations.
Humans have changed most ecosystems beyond recognition in a dramatically short space of time. Although humanity has made considerable gains in the process - economies and food production have continued to grow - the way these successes have been achieved puts at risk global prosperity in the future.
Modelling of future scenarios suggests human societies can ease the strains being put on nature, while continuing to use them to maintain living standards. But it requires changes in consumption patterns, better education, new technologies and higher prices for exploiting ecosystems.
