Wildlife in crisis is a wake-up call for humanity. The World Wide Fund for Nature’s biennial Living Planet Report, released today, paints a dire picture of the planet’s health.
The latest WWF report, A System in Peril, reveals a shocking 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. This catastrophic loss over a 50 year period, driven by human activities and climate change, signals a planet in peril.
Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF-UK, warns: “A staggering 73% decline in just 50 years is truly shocking and must be a wake-up call for our leaders ahead of the crucial COP16 and COP29 summits.”
A looming threat
The report highlights the world’s dangerous proximity to irreversible tipping points, including:
- Potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest
- Rapid melting of polar ice sheets
- Mass die-off of coral reefs
Given that the Amazon rainforest and polar ice help regulate the planet’s climate and sustain a wide range of life, the dangers are clear.
“More worrying still is the prospect of reaching global tipping points, risking not just the survival of precious animal species, but the basis for human society as well,” Steele says.
Latin America and Caribbean hit hardest
While the global average decline is 73%, species in Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered a staggering 95% average population decline since 1970. This stark statistic reveals a troubling trend where developed nations, like the UK, are effectively outsourcing biodiversity loss to other parts of the world.
The Amazon at risk
The Amazon rainforest, which houses 10% of the world’s wildlife species, is nearing a tipping point. Recent extreme droughts and wildfires have decimated local populations, including rare pink river dolphins. With estimates suggesting that up to 17% of the rainforest has already been destroyed, experts warn that losing 20-25% could push it into irreversible decline.
“The warnings are flashing red,” Steele cautions, emphasising the critical need for immediate action.
Urgent action needed
Reviewing global progress towards 2030 sustainable development goals, the report calls for immediate transformation in three key areas if they are to be met:
- Food Production: Reduce habitat loss with a shift to nature-friendly practices
- Redirect Finance: Currently, £5 trillion flows into harmful activities, while only £150 billion supports nature-based solutions.
- Transition to Clean Energy: Rapidly moving away from fossil fuels is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperature rise within safe limits.
Matthew Gould, CEO of Zoological Society of London (ZSL), explains: “The message from ZSL’s Living Planet Index is clear—nature is under threat, endangering the ecosystems that all life relies on.” In other words, this is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of global security and sustainability.
A call for legislative change
Ahead of COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, and COP29 on climate in Baku, Azerbaijan, WWF-UK is urging the UK government to implement a Living Planet Act, aimed at protecting and restoring nature both domestically and globally.
Steele declares, “It’s not too late to change course—this could be a turning point instead of a tipping point. As a G7 nation, the UK must take bold action to transform our finance, energy, and food systems.”
Hope for change
The Living Planet Report is more than just a data collection; it’s a health check for the planet. With nearly 35,000 population trends of 5,495 vertebrate species analysed, the report serves as an urgent call to action for global leaders.
With pivotal international summits on the horizon, the message is clear: urgent, transformative actions are needed now to protect our planet and secure the future of all life on Earth.
In Steele’s words, “We rely on nature for so much—the food we eat, the air we breathe. If we pass these tipping points, we’ll be putting our societies and economies at risk.” The time for action is now.
This article by Cinead McTernan was first published by Discover Wildlife on 10 October 2024. Lead Image: (Getty Images/Patrick J. Endres).
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