1 Organization Issues Red Alert
The global wildlife population declined 69 percent, on average, from 1970 to 2018, according to the World Wildlife Fund-UK, whose Living Planet Report is released every two years. Two years ago, the decline was 68 percent. Four years ago, it was 60 percent. The total loss is the equivalent of the human population of Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and China disappearing, according to the report. Humans have caused the decline with overdevelopment and deforestation, leading to the loss of animals’ natural habitats, and pollution. And the consequences won’t be felt just by animals—the elimination of those natural habitats could foil efforts to fight climate change. “The lights are flashing red,” the organization said.
2 Area With Biggest Decline
3 What About the U.S.?
Wildlife species have declined 20 percent in North America and 18 percent in Europe, the report said. But that’s not good news: The lower numbers are due to the fact that much of the natural environment in those areas had already been exploited. Elsewhere in the world, wildlife has declined by 66 percent in Africa and 55 percent in Asia and the Pacific.
4 The Most Affected Species
Water-based species have been hit the hardest. Nearly 1,400 species of freshwater fish, reptiles, and amphibians have declined by 83 percent, on average.
5 World Leaders “Missing In Action”
“For us, the biggest concern isn’t just the numbers,” said Steele. “It’s the fact that there is absolutely no action — world leaders are missing in action.” “Despite the science, the catastrophic projections, the impassioned speeches and promises, the burning forests, submerged countries, record temperatures and displaced millions, world leaders continue to sit back and watch our world burn in front of our eyes,” she added. “The climate and nature crises, their fates entwined, are not some faraway threat our grandchildren will solve with still-to-be-discovered technology.” In December, nearly 200 countries are slated to meet in Montreal for a UN biodiversity summit to set new targets to halt wildlife decline by 2030. None of the targets set for 2020 were met.
