The report published this week, finds that over the past 50 years (1970–2020), the average size of monitored wildlife populations has shrunk by 73%, as measured by the Living Planet Index (LPI). This is based on almost 35,000 population trends and 5,495 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles. Freshwater populations have suffered the heaviest declines, falling by 85%, followed by terrestrial (69%) and marine populations (56%).
Habitat degradation and loss, driven primarily by our food system, is the most reported threat in each region, followed by overexploitation, invasive species and disease. Other threats include climate change (most cited in Latin America and the Caribbean) and pollution (particularly in North America and Asia and the Pacific).
Dangerous tipping points
The LPI and similar indicators all show that nature is disappearing at an alarming rate. While some changes may be small and gradual, their cumulative impacts can trigger a larger, faster change. When cumulative impacts reach a threshold, the change becomes self-perpetuating, resulting in substantial, often abrupt and potentially irreversible change. This is called a tipping point. In the natural world, a number of tipping points are highly likely if current trends are let continue, with potentially catastrophic consequences. These include global tipping points that pose grave threats to humanity and most species, and would damage Earth’s life-support systems and destabilize societies everywhere. Early warning signs indicate that several global tipping points are fast approaching:
- Mass coral die-off would destroy fisheries and storm protections
- Amazon rainforest destruction releases tonnes of carbon, disrupting weather patterns
- Collapse of the subpolar gyre will change weather in Europe and North America
- Melting ice sheets will rise sea levels by many metres
- Thawing of permafrost will release vast quantities of methane and carbon dioxide
The scale of the challenge demands transformation
The Global Food System is destroying biodiversity and depleting water resources and changing climate. Nature-positive production is essential that produces food while letting nature flourish. We need to reduce food waste and eat a greater proportion of plant based foods.
Transform the Energy system, we need to rapidly transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to keep warming as close to 1.5˚C as possible.
Transform Financial systems, redirect finance from harmful activities towards global goals for nature, climate and sustainable development to have any chance of a habitable and thriving planet.
The Report states: It is no exaggeration to say that what happens in the next five years will determine the future of life on Earth.
Report Executive Summary:
