New Zealand's ecological footprint - measured per head of population - is the sixth-largest in the world, according to a global survey released yesterday.
Swiss-based conservation group WWF said in its Living Planet report that more than three-quarters of the world's population lives in countries whose consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal.
The report, a leading statement on the planet's health, shows that only the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Kuwait, Denmark and Australia have larger ecological footprints than New Zealand on a per head of population basis.
"As a country we are in dubious company in terms of our demands on the planet," said WWF-New Zealand's executive director Chris Howe.
The WWF calculations included carbon emissions sourced from the production of imported goods and services.
They showed New Zealanders' use of natural resources was excessive.
Mr Howe said it made sense to look after nature as the country's health and prosperity depended on it.
"We are lucky in New Zealand to have a bountiful country with large biocapacity - but if we continue to consume our resources at this breakneck pace, its ability to provide for us will decline."
As world consumption rates increased, biodiversity was declining.
An ecological footprint measures the amount of resources humans use and the waste they generate: New Zealand has moved from requiring 5.9 "global hectares" per person in the 2006 WWF report to an average of 7.7 global hectares.
A global hectare is a standardised hectare of land able to produce resources and absorb wastes at world average levels.
Worldwide, the average ecological footprint jumped from 2.2 global hectares per person to 2.7 global hectares per person, but the world has only an average 2.1ha available per person.
"Humans are now exceeding the planet's regenerative capacity by about 30%," the report said.
If demand kept growing at the same rate, the equivalent of two planets would be required in the mid-2030s to sustain current lifestyles - or 3.5 planets if everyone on Earth used resources at the same pace as New Zealanders.
The report by WWF - also known as the World Wildlife Fund - said the largest human-induced pressure on the planet was from fossil fuel use.
In New Zealand, the main growth in carbon emissions since 1990 has come from the energy sector - mainly transport and electricity generation.
According to Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority reports, New Zealand is now second only to the United States both in the number of cars owned per person and in the number of kilometres travelled in those cars.
Mr Howe said the most urgent priority in NZ should be given to reducing our carbon emissions.
"We have the will to change, but we need much more support from government to do so, and that needs to happen now," Mr Howe said.
The Government needed to commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 2005 levels, by 2050.
