Consumer appetite erodes quality of life for all

The world is consuming goods and services at an unsustainable pace, with serious consequences for the well-being of people and the planet, according to the Worldwatch Institute's annual report, State of the World 2004.

Around 1.7 billion people worldwide — more than a quarter of humanity — have entered the "consumer class," adopting the diets, transportation systems, and lifestyles that were limited to the rich nations of Europe, North America, and Japan during most of the last century. In China alone, 240 million people have joined the ranks of consumers — a number that will soon surpass that in the United States.

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