Excessive consumption has spread to developing countries and could wipe out efforts to slow climate change, Worldwatch Institute says. The average American consumes more than his or her weight in products each day, fuelling a global culture of excess that is emerging as the biggest threat to the planet, according to a report published today.

Africa's rapidly growing population projected to see urbanisation, economic growth, health and climate problems

When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its last report in 2007, environmental tipping points were a footnote. A troubling footnote, to be sure, but the science was relatively new and unsettled. Straightforward global warming was enough to worry about. But when the IPCC meets in 2014, tipping points — or tipping elements, in academic vernacular — will get much more attention. Scientists still disagree about which planetary systems are extra-sensitive to climate shifts, but the possibility can’t be ignored.

By Matt Barringer, CNN Design Ever wondered how much carbon the world emits from the power it uses? The colored circles show each region's population and their electricity consumption and carbon emissions. Use the slider at the top to see annual emissions generated from 1980 to 2007. Click on the name of the regions at the top for a closer view of the relevant figures.