27 OCTOBER 2016, SINGAPORE – Global populations of wildlife have declined 58% in the past 40 years, and is expected to decline further to 67% by 2020, in the latest Living Planet Report 2016 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The report identifies food production as a primary cause of biodiversity loss through habitat destruction and the over-exploitation of resources. WWF-Singapore highlighted the implications of these findings for Singapore, calling for the public to take action as responsible consumers.
Said Elaine Tan, CEO, WWF-Singapore, “Population growth and consumer demands have put our planet at a crossroads. As governments come together with stronger commitments to sustainable development, this report also highlights the need for individuals to play a part by consuming resources responsibly. This is especially true for a globalised country like Singapore that imports over 90% of our food1. This connectedness gives us added accountability for the impact of our actions on places far beyond our borders.”
WWF-Singapore cites seafood and palm oil as priority areas in Singapore with pressing sustainability needs, outlining a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing the challenges.
- 75% of popular seafood species in Singapore are unsustainable due to overfishing, destructive fishing methods or poor farming techniques. To expand the availability of sustainable seafood, WWF is working with businesses through the Responsible Seafood Group, while encouraging the public to use the Singapore Seafood Guide to make informed purchase choices.
- Unsustainable methods of producing palm oil have led to massive deforestation and caused Southeast Asia billions of dollars in lost revenue from the haze. To address this, WWF promotes the use of sustainable palm oil by getting businesses to set targets for the use of 100% certified sustainable palm oil. WWF-Singapore has also approached CEOs of Singapore-based companies to discuss their use of palm oil.
Refer to the Living Planet Report 2016 media release here.
For more information, please contact:
Janissa Ng,
Communications Manager, WWF-Singapore
email: shng@wwf.sg
About WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF-Singapore’s campaigns centre around sustainable consumption, raising awareness and prompting action on issues such as deforestation, haze pollution, seafood sustainability and the illegal wildlife trade. wwf.sg
