PROGRAMMES/ EARTH REPORT: STATE OF THE PLANET THURSDAY 14 FEBRUARY AT 7PM As the Earth turns another year older in 2007, our planet has seen 8 billion metric tonnes of carbon released into its atmosphere 90 million tonnes of fish pulled out of its oceans and 11 billion trees toppled on its land. videos_earthDay Tracking everything from carbon emissions to reforestation projects, Earth Report: State of the Planet rates how nations have impacted our world – both positively and negatively – in 2007. Opening a new coal power plant every week, China surpassed the United States in total emissions for the first time. The Arctic polar ice cap is receding more than even the worst case scenarios had predicted, and countries are scrambling to stake their claim on the prized shipping route of an ice-less Northwest Passage. On land, deforestation has taken a significant toll, with nearly 50 percent of the original forests in the world now gone. But, many countries are working to make a difference. China is investing U.S. $8 billion to build the ‘Green Wall of China’ – the world’s largest reforestation project stretching nearly 4,500 kilometres. The U.S. government will test storing carbon dioxide emissions underground – depositing more than three trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide beneath North America.		EARTH DAY/ FACT SHEET “Last year, severe droughts affected every continent except Antarctica, as did associated wildfires.” btn_fact PROGRAMMES Planet Mechanics Earth Report Human Footprint btn_programmes SHOW YOUR SUPPORT MOUNTAINS HIGH BY EMMA FURNESS btn_photos QUIZ How green are you? Have a go at our fun quiz to find out how much you care about the planet. btn_quiz