Written by Herbert Girardet of the Schumacher College, UK

An acute state of emergency exists on Earth, imperilling its climate, its life support systems and the lives of billions of people. The related crises of environmental degradation and the destitution of a third of humanity are worsened by a profound failure of world governance.

It is now well-recognised that the use of the Earth's renewable resources - land, forests, fresh water, coastal areas and fisheries - is beyond their natural regeneration capacity and is therefore unsustainable.

It is time for a global community of civil society organisations to take the lead by showing what has and can be achieved - through community-based initiatives, direct action, lobbying and education.

The key issues we need to tackle are: resource productivity, renewable energy, eco-technologies, ecologically sustainable food production, efficient use of fresh water, preservation of biodiversity and local cultures, restoration of forest cover, sustainable human settlements, re-localising our economies, and diverting military expenditure to funding peace, justice, environmental security and climate stability.

By working together through our networks - globally and locally - we can accelerate the initiatives already underway, shifting the global balance of power in favour of restoring the Earth, of sharing its resources equitably and assuring the sustainable well-being of present and future generations.