“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.” - UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity, or anthropogenic emissions, are the fundamental cause of global climate change. According to the IPCC’s latest report, the “combined effects of human activity have already increased the global average temperature by about 1.1°C above the late 19th-century average.” In order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the Glasgow Pact officially recognized that emissions have to be reduced by at least 45% by 20.
Climate Change
Unsustainable Material Resource System
Our global, single-use material resource system is one of the root causes of environmental degradation. The way humans currently extract, process, produce, consume and dispose of materials and waste must change immediately.
Our global material resource system is predicated on the extraction, production, use, and disposal of single use materials. In fact, less than 9% of materials are reused. This system was workable when material use was relatively low, but material use is growing at an unsustainable rate. During the 20th century, global material use increased from 7 billion to 49 billion tons (“MT”) per year – a seven-fold increase. If current material use patterns persist, material usage will increase to 350 billion MT per year by end of the century1 – once again, a seven-fold increase in material utilization.
The rate of environmental degradation is staggering. In order to avoid the worst impacts of biological degeneration, we have to completely transform the way we view our natural world.
The impacts of human activity are indisputable. Globally, 75% of arable land is “substantially degraded” by at least one form of degradation, such as aridity, vegetation decline, soil salinization and loss of soil carbon. If current rates continue, this number could grow to 95% by 2050. In addition, 66% of ocean ecosystems are damaged, degraded or modified.
The world’s ecosystems are under acute pressure including the loss of approximately 10 million hectares of forest each year, a 600% increase in freshwater usage over the past 100 years, the transformation of 70% of grasslands and 50% of savannahs into agriculture, the loss of 20-30% of mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and a 14% loss in coral reefs in just the last ten years.
Environmental Degradation
Human Health
Climate change is the greatest threat to human health.
The impacts of our material resource system, degradation of natural ecosystems and changes in global temperatures have severely impacted the health of populations around the world. Increasing temperatures have led some to estimate that climate change could displace 1.2 billion people by 2050.
However, the impacts are not limited to just climate change. Globally, air pollution accounts for about seven million premature deaths a year, 700 million people will face severe water shortages by 2030 and approximately 250,000 deaths may occur due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress related to environmental degradation.
“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.” - UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity, or anthropogenic emissions, are the fundamental cause of global climate change. According to the IPCC’s latest report, the “combined effects of human activity have already increased the global average temperature by about 1.1°C above the late 19th-century average.” In order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the Glasgow Pact officially recognized that emissions have to be reduced by at least 45% by 20.
Climate Change
Unsustainable Material Resource System
Our global, single-use material resource system is one of the root causes of environmental degradation. The way humans currently extract, process, produce, consume and dispose of materials and waste must change immediately.
Our global material resource system is predicated on the extraction, production, use, and disposal of single use materials. In fact, less than 9% of materials are reused. This system was workable when material use was relatively low, but material use is growing at an unsustainable rate. During the 20th century, global material use increased from 7 billion to 49 billion tons (“MT”) per year – a seven-fold increase. If current material use patterns persist, material usage will increase to 350 billion MT per year by end of the century1 – once again, a seven-fold increase in material utilization.
The rate of environmental degradation is staggering. In order to avoid the worst impacts of biological degeneration, we have to completely transform the way we view our natural world.
The impacts of human activity are indisputable. Globally, 75% of arable land is “substantially degraded” by at least one form of degradation, such as aridity, vegetation decline, soil salinization and loss of soil carbon. If current rates continue, this number could grow to 95% by 2050. In addition, 66% of ocean ecosystems are damaged, degraded or modified.
The world’s ecosystems are under acute pressure including the loss of approximately 10 million hectares of forest each year, a 600% increase in freshwater usage over the past 100 years, the transformation of 70% of grasslands and 50% of savannahs into agriculture, the loss of 20-30% of mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and a 14% loss in coral reefs in just the last ten years.
Environmental Degradation
Human Health
Climate change is the greatest threat to human health.
The impacts of our material resource system, degradation of natural ecosystems and changes in global temperatures have severely impacted the health of populations around the world. Increasing temperatures have led some to estimate that climate change could displace 1.2 billion people by 2050.
However, the impacts are not limited to just climate change. Globally, air pollution accounts for about seven million premature deaths a year, 700 million people will face severe water shortages by 2030 and approximately 250,000 deaths may occur due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress related to environmental degradation.
“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.” - UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity, or anthropogenic emissions, are the fundamental cause of global climate change. According to the IPCC’s latest report, the “combined effects of human activity have already increased the global average temperature by about 1.1°C above the late 19th-century average.” In order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the Glasgow Pact officially recognized that emissions have to be reduced by at least 45% by 20.
Climate Change
Unsustainable Material Resource System
Our global, single-use material resource system is one of the root causes of environmental degradation. The way humans currently extract, process, produce, consume and dispose of materials and waste must change immediately.
Our global material resource system is predicated on the extraction, production, use, and disposal of single use materials. In fact, less than 9% of materials are reused. This system was workable when material use was relatively low, but material use is growing at an unsustainable rate. During the 20th century, global material use increased from 7 billion to 49 billion tons (“MT”) per year – a seven-fold increase. If current material use patterns persist, material usage will increase to 350 billion MT per year by end of the century1 – once again, a seven-fold increase in material utilization.
The rate of environmental degradation is staggering. In order to avoid the worst impacts of biological degeneration, we have to completely transform the way we view our natural world.
The impacts of human activity are indisputable. Globally, 75% of arable land is “substantially degraded” by at least one form of degradation, such as aridity, vegetation decline, soil salinization and loss of soil carbon. If current rates continue, this number could grow to 95% by 2050. In addition, 66% of ocean ecosystems are damaged, degraded or modified.
The world’s ecosystems are under acute pressure including the loss of approximately 10 million hectares of forest each year, a 600% increase in freshwater usage over the past 100 years, the transformation of 70% of grasslands and 50% of savannahs into agriculture, the loss of 20-30% of mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and a 14% loss in coral reefs in just the last ten years.
Environmental Degradation
Human Health
Climate change is the greatest threat to human health.
The impacts of our material resource system, degradation of natural ecosystems and changes in global temperatures have severely impacted the health of populations around the world. Increasing temperatures have led some to estimate that climate change could displace 1.2 billion people by 2050.
However, the impacts are not limited to just climate change. Globally, air pollution accounts for about seven million premature deaths a year, 700 million people will face severe water shortages by 2030 and approximately 250,000 deaths may occur due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea and heat stress related to environmental degradation.
Haydar H. Al Sahtout
Venture Partner, Middle East
Haydar Alsahtout leads the Humankind Group’s business development efforts in the middle east as a Venture Partner for the “blue” economy. He is a C-level, corporate strategy & business development specialist with cross-functional experience in a series of industries. Haydar pioneered the introduction of the concept of the “Blue Bioeconomy” to the Middle East and has accumulated more than thirty years of experience in the “bio-marine,” aquaculture and algae production industries in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia.
Prior to Humankind Group, Haydar led the development of the world’s largest “Blue Bioeconomy” Program in Saudi Arabia in partnership with various official organizations, industry leaders and R&D institutions from the USA, Japan, Europe, and Asia.
Earlier in his career, the World Bank selected Haydar’s aquaculture development plan and Saudi-industrial investment vehicle in Malaysia as one of the nation’s most promising business models to achieve the “2020 Vision Plan” for the county. Subsequently, Haydar actively participated in the development of one of the world’s largest, fully integrated Aquaculture operations in the Middle East. Additionally, he chaired the official Saudi National Fisheries Development Plan – the first of its kind in that region. In continuing this work, Haydar chaired Saudi Fisheries Delegations to Europe, Australia and the USA. He also led the largest private fisheries organization and other businesses in the Middle East.
Haydar is well respected in the “blue economy sector” having participated as a moderator, speaker, or member in exhibitions in 40 countries around the world including conferences organized by the UN, EU, WAS, GAA, NACA, FAORNE, INFOFISH, RICOFI, ABO, FPI, GFIA.
Haydar’s successful career is based on his strong belief that the “Blue Bioeconomy” and “BioMarine” industries can significantly contribute to the Middle East and Northern Africa’s Sustainable Development and climate objectives.
Hydar holds a Bachelor of Science in Petrolume Geology from King Abd Al Aziz University.