Across the range of biodiversity measures, current rates of loss exceed those of the historical past by several orders of magnitude and show no indication of slowing. Biodiversity is declining rapidly due to land use change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution. These results from demographic, economic, sociopolitical, cultural, technological, and other indirect drivers. While these drivers vary in importance among ecosystems and regions, current trends indicate a continuing loss of biodiversity.
Why Biodiversity is Important:
- Biodiversity maintains the ecological balance.
- It helps in the healthy existence of humans and other species in the ecosystem.
- It helps in high productivity and human wellness.
- Biodiversity provides humans with valuable genetic diversity. Because genetic material is the result of millions of years of evolution, biodiversity preservation is critical.
- Biodiversity is a good indicator of our interdependence with other living things.
- It also signifies each species’ contribution and function in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
How does Climate Change Affect Biodiversity?
The environmental changes being driven by climate change are disturbing natural habitats and species in ways that are still only becoming clear. There are signs that rising temperatures are affecting biodiversity, while changing rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification are putting pressure on species already threatened by other human activities. The threat posed by climate change to biodiversity is expected to increase, yet thriving ecosystems also have the capacity to help reduce the impacts of climate change.
If current rates of warming continue, by 2030 global temperatures could increase by more than 1.5 degree Celsius compared to before the industrial revolution. A major impact of climate change on biodiversity is the increase in intensity and frequency of fires, storms, or period of drought. Rising global temperatures also have the potential to alter ecosystems over longer periods by changing what can grow and live within them. There is already evidence to suggest that reductions in water vapor in the atmosphere since the 1990’s have resulted in 59% of vegetated areas showing pronounced browning and reduced growth rates worldwide.
Rising temperatures in the oceans affect marine organisms. Corals are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures and ocean acidification can make it harder for shellfish and corals in the upper ocean to form shells and hard skeletons. Despite the threats posed by climate change to biodiversity, we also know that natural habitats play an important role in regulating climate and can help to absorb and store carbon. Mangroves are significant sinks for carbon and the Amazon is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet and is an enormous store of carbon – up to 100 billion tons, although a recent study has suggested the Amazon may now be emitting more carbon than it absorbs. Safeguarding these natural sinks from further damage is an important part of limiting climate change.
Recent & Current trends in Biodiversity:
Across the range of biodiversity measures, current rates of change and loss exceed those of the historical past by several orders of magnitude and show no indication of slowing. At large scales across biogeographic realms and ecosystems (biomes), declines in biodiversity are recorded in all parts of the habitat world. Among well – studied groups of species, extinction rate of organisms are high and increasing (medium certainty), and at local levels both populations and habitats are most found to be decline.
The patterns of threat and extinction are not evenly distributed among species but tend to be concentrated ecological or taxonomic groups. Ecological traits shared by species facing high extinction risk include high trophic level, low population density, long lifespan, low reproductive rate, and small geographic range size. The degree of extinction rate also tends to be similar among related species, leading to the likelihood that entire revolutionary radiation can and have been lost. Most recorded species extinctions since 1500 have occurred on islands. However, predictions of increasing nos. of future extinctions suggest a significant shift from island to continental areas.
The need for urgent action to not only halt this assault on nature, but reverse it, is increasingly recognized. The Secretariat of UN Convention on Biological diversity has also released a draft of new global biodiversity framework, which will be presented for consideration during the second part of COP 15. It aims to guide actions worldwide through 2030 to “preserve and protect nature and its essential services to people “, enroute to “living in harmony with nature” by 2050. Biodiversity conservation efforts are essential in maintaining functioning ecosystems, a steady food supply and the multiple other benefits including aesthetics, recreation, and spiritual purposes.
Policy Action Steps up a Gear:
Not so long ago, biodiversity was highly unlikely to crop up as a subject for boardroom discussion. Biodiversity has shot up on the agenda to join climate change as one of the top priorities for ESG- conscious investors. The startling shift in focus reflects the fact that policy makers are finally waking up to the scale of the crisis facing nature around the world. Among the key pledges in the Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at the conference was a commitment to protect at least 30 % of the World’s land, inland waters, coastal areas, and Oceans by 2030. The loss of “areas of high biodiversity importance” is to be reduced to “net zero”, while 30% of degraded ecosystems are to be restored.
Of key importance for investors is a target to require financial institutions to transparently disclose their risks, dependencies, and impact on biodiversity. The aim is to reduce the negative impact of investments on nature and promote investment in “sustainable patterns of production”. It is against this backdrop that investors are scrambling to put in place strategies for disclosing their impacts on biodiversity and engaging with corporates to encourage nature- friendly practices.
Collective Action:
A plethora of initiatives have emerged over the past year as the investor community attempts to define a collective approach to biodiversity decline. Meanwhile, the UN- backed Principles for Responsible Investment is developing a collaborative stewardship initiative on nature, focusing initially on forest laws and land degradation.
The Leaders’ pledge for nature is a commitment to urgent and transformational actions to address biodiversity loss, safeguard our planetary safety net and ensure we build forward better towards net positives outcomes for nature, climate, and sustainable development.
Frameworks take shape:
One of the key challenges facing investors on biodiversity is a lack of clarity on what kinds of data they should be collecting and disclosing. There is no silver bullet for data dilemmas in this space. Impacts on biodiversity are not easy to quantify. They are even harder to aggregate and compare in a meaningful way. But while the pace of adopting TNFD reporting will vary, the direction of travel seems clear. It is time to get started on reporting nature- related risks, dependencies, and impacts.
Role of Consultant in this initiative:
We as consultants have helped many of the organizations in this initiative by providing best alternative solutions and suggestions for the betterment of biodiversity. By following our suggestions and recommendations the companies have observed that there are remarkable changes, and which are also for the betterment of the environment. We have different solutions for the varying queries of the client and are ready to help and assist them in their needs as per the requirements.
Conclusion:
Although still in its infancy, the Convention on Biological Diversity is already making itself felt. The philosophy of sustainable development, the ecosystem approach and the emphasis on building partnerships are all helping to shape global action on biodiversity. The data and reports Governments are gathering and sharing with each other are providing a sound basis for understanding the challenges and collaborating on the solutions.
Much more needs to be done. The passage of the Earth’s biodiversity through the coming century will be its more severe test. With human population expected to rise dramatically, particularly in developing countries, and the consumer revolution set for exponential expansion- not to mention the worsening stresses of climate change, ozone depletion and hazardous chemicals – species and ecosystems will face ever more serious threats. Unless we act now, children born today will live in an impoverished world. A richer future is possible. If governments and all sectors of society apply the concepts embodied in the Convention and make the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity a real priority, we can ensure a new and sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world for generations to come.