The world is consuming goods and services at an unsustainable pace,

with serious consequences for the well-being of people and the

planet, reports the Worldwatch Institute in its annual report,

State of the World 2004.

More than a quarter of the world’s population — around 1.7 billion

people — are now part of the “consumer class,” with the same

lifestyles that were once limited to the rich nations of Europe, North

America, and Japan. In China alone, 240 million people have joined

the ranks of consumers. The “consumer class” is defined as people

who use televisions, telephones, and the Internet, and adopt a culture

of consumerism in their eating, transportation, and buying habits.

Today, almost half of the world’s consumers live in developing countries, which also are the most

populated and fastest growing countries.