據「看守世界」研究中心12日發刊的《2006-2007年維生徵象》（Vital Signs 2006-2007），其內容針對全球趨勢做的研究發現，人類對石油的依賴程度日益增加，卻造成了地球生態的破壞，並威脅到人類未來的生存。報告內容勾勒出地球現今的恐怖景象，並警示人類對所做的行為須有重大改變，以避開未來將發生在生態、經濟及社會的浩劫。
此份研究的主要撰寫者艾薩杜里恩（Eric Assadourian）表示：「情況越來越明顯了。人類社會改變腳步的迫切性越來越高，因為我們快沒有時間了。」他還說，儘管全球經濟指標顯示社會日趨繁榮、生產不斷增加，但地球生態系統和多數人卻遭受「日常性」的磨難。
舉例來說，經濟指標顯示，全世界比過去生產出更多食物、鋼鐵、鋁製品、汽車和手機，2005年世界生產毛額上升到59兆6,000億美元，寫下新紀錄。但是，根據此份《維生徵象》報告，這些經濟數據和趨勢與「石化燃料全面造成世界生態衰退」互相抵銷。
全世界約80%的能源來自石油、煤礦和天然氣，而持續上升的能源價格對於減緩需求並沒有作用。
石油使用在2005年上升1.3%，達到每天8,300萬桶以上。天然氣的使用在2005年躍升3.3%，而煤礦使用則上升6.3%。燃燒這些燃料（尤其是煤礦和石油）是人造二氧化碳的主要來源，而二氧化碳是與全球暖化最有關的溫室氣體。「看守世界」研究中心主席弗萊文（Chris Flavin）補充表示，科學家越來越關心生態改變（如冰層融化和森林消退）妨礙自然系統吸收二氧化碳的能力。
全球經濟數據同時也無法說明地球上多數人的生活狀況，掩飾了貧富差距。艾薩杜里恩表示，「許多人仍然連最基本勉強維生的必需品都沒有。是什麼地方出了差錯？讓經濟熱度再也不是繁榮的象徵？」
此份報告注意到超過10億人缺乏使用安全飲用水的管道，25億人則沒有像樣的公共衛生設備。報告中聲明，非永續性消費模式正在濫用地球的自然資源，到2050年之前，世界人口估計將增加到89億人，而目前的經濟趨勢為促進世界大多數人口的生活帶來渺茫的希望。
The world’s growing dependence on fossil fuels is fueling ecological destruction across the planet and threatening humanity’s future, according to a new study of trends released Wednesday by the Worldwatch Institute called "Vital Signs 2006-2007." The report paints a grim picture of the planet’s vital signs and warns that dramatic changes in the global economy are needed to fend off ecological, economic and social catastrophes.
"It is becoming ever more apparent that human society has a rapidly shrinking window of time to alter its path," said Eric Assadourian, lead author of the study. The Earth's ecosystems and much of humanity are suffering from "business as usual," Assadourian said, despite global economic indicators that convey a sense of rising prosperity and production.
Those indicators show, for example, that gross world product rose in 2005 to a record $59.6 trillion as the world produced more food, steel, aluminum, cars and cell phones than ever before.
But these numbers and trends are set "against a backdrop of ecological decline in a world powered overwhelmingly by fossil fuels," according to the report, titled "Vital Signs 2006-2007."
Some 80 percent of the world’s energy comes from oil, coal or natural gas and rising energy prices have done little to slow demand.
Oil use grew 1.3 percent in 2005 to more than 83 million barrels a day. Natural gas use jumped 3.3 percent in 2005 and coal use increased by 6.3 percent. The burning of these fuels – in particular coal and oil – is the major source of manmade carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas linked to global warming.
There is growing concern among scientists that ecological changes – such as ice melt and deforestation - are impeding the ability of natural systems to absorb carbon dioxide, added Worldwatch President Chris Flavin.
Global economic numbers also fail to illustrate the living conditions for many on the planet and hide the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor. "Many still live without the barest essentials," Assadourian told reporters via conference call. "At what point where booming economic trends are no longer a sign of prosperity?"
The report notes that more than 1 billion people lack access to safe water and 2.5 billion people do not have access to decent sanitation facilities. Unsustainable consumption patterns are straining the planet’s natural resources, the report said, and current trends offer little hope for improving the lives of the vast majority of the world’s population, which is estimated to grow to 8.9 billion by 2050.
