Blazing fires, biblical floods, and catastrophic storms are on the rise, and scientists warn that these events may just be the beginning. Our planet is edging towards various climate “tipping points” that could result in irreversible changes to our home. From the Antarctic ice sheet to the Amazon rainforest, the impacts of climate change are evident. However, there are other significant environmental challenges that our planet faces. In this series of graphics, we explore some of these challenges.
A Decline in Biodiversity
Human activities such as logging, pollution, overfishing, and urban development are causing a rapid loss of biodiversity. According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2022, global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% between 1970 and 2018. The report states that land-use change, including deforestation for agriculture and urbanization, is currently the largest threat to nature. However, it predicts that climate change will likely become the dominant cause of biodiversity loss in the coming decades. The UN’s landmark 2019 biodiversity report warned that one million out of the planet’s eight million species are at risk of extinction, and the global extinction rate is already tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been in the past 10 million years.
The Disappearing Forests
Forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and storing carbon for long periods. However, they are disappearing at an alarming rate as a result of human activities. Southeast Asia’s peat swamp forests, which are rich in biodiversity and carbon stocks, have been drained and degraded to make room for agriculture, leading to increased carbon emissions. Additionally, certain tropical forests, such as the southeastern part of the Amazon rainforest, have transitioned from being carbon sinks to carbon sources, contributing more carbon to the atmosphere.
The Menace of Plastic Pollution
Plastics take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose and can be found in various environments, including city streets, Antarctic sea ice, and even drinking water. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of trash spanning 620,000 square miles, threatens marine life with entanglement and chemical contamination. Plastics pose a significant risk to wildlife, from seals to seabirds, and microplastics have been detected in the digestive systems of many aquatic organisms, including marine turtles. Microplastics have even infiltrated our drinking water and the air we breathe.
Pollinators in Peril
Pollinators, such as bees, moths, butterflies, birds, and small mammals like bats, are essential for the pollination of crops and the maintenance of ecosystems. However, they are facing numerous threats, including pesticides, monocultures in agriculture, and habitat destruction. A 2023 study from the University of Sheffield revealed that nocturnal moths, crucial pollinators in urban areas, have declined by 33% globally over the past 50 years. The decline of pollinators could have severe consequences for food production, with one study estimating that it is already contributing to approximately 430,000 premature deaths annually due to a decline in the supply of healthy foods.
Endangered Bird Populations
Bird populations worldwide are under pressure due to habitat destruction caused by agriculture, development, and logging. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable due to overfishing. Shockingly, nearly 3 billion birds have vanished from North America’s skies in the past 50 years, and the UK has lost 73 million birds since 1970, according to research from the British Trust for Ornithology. Hawaii has seen the extinction of 33 bird species since 1825 due to habitat loss, invasive species, and disease. In India, 178 species of wild birds are considered of high conservation priority.
Despite these challenges, there are countless groups and individuals dedicated to protecting our planet. On Call to Earth Day 2023, we celebrate the initiatives that strive to safeguard nature and our interconnected ecosystems worldwide. Find out how you can get involved.
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