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Less than one-quarter of Earth’s surface is essentially untouched by humans. By 2050, this is predicted to have dropped to a tenth of its current level. The effects of such an abrupt shift in the natural surroundings on people’s health, happiness, safety, and prosperity would be devastating.
UN Environment, which is responsible for setting the global environmental agenda and fostering concerted action, has proposed five changes to realign mankind with nature and to make use of nature’s own answers to climate change.
Why we should be concerned of the loss of nature loss?
Our whole survival depends on the natural world. Everything we need for life and health comes from nature, from the oxygen we breathe to the water we drink. Millions of people’s livelihoods and much of our economic activity are dependent on the natural world, therefore protecting it is essential to our well-being. These enormous advantages to humans, worth an estimated US$125 trillion each year, are only attainable if we preserve a wide variety of species.
There is little doubt that humans are destroying natural areas at a rate quicker than they can be regenerated. Moreover, without immediate action, considerable harm to people and earth is unavoidable, including insufficient food and water for our rising global population, significant disruption to our economy, and the loss of species of an estimated 1 million species.
These problems are not new to the world, and countries throughout the world have already pledged to take action to combat environmental loss under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations’ worldwide agreement on nature.
Meanwhile, there is a growing number of red flags. In the last 40 years, mammalian, avian, reptilian, amphibian, and fish populations have decreased by an average of 60%, and 75% of ground has been drastically affected by human activity.
Why do we need a new deal for nature ?
Protecting natural areas, driving sustainability, and halting species extinction all require a coordinated, all-encompassing set of goals that are grounded in research and designed to motivate governments to act. Within one decade, WWF suggests:
1. Half of Earth’s land area is kept in its natural state by excellent protection, restoration, and sustainable management, with no natural areas lost.
In this case, 30% of all land, freshwater, and marine regions can be protected and conserved in an effective and equitable manner, and 20% can be maintained in a sustainable manner. To ensure that nature flourishes for the benefit of all humanity, respecting the rights and playing the role of indigenous and local communities is essential.
2. Preventing all forms of extinction and working to maintain or increase wildlife numbers. Together, we must work to conserve their ecosystems, remove the stresses of unsustainable production, and prevent poaching and the introduction of invasive alien species.
3. Reduce production and consumption’s negative environmental impacts by 50% through country-level accountability. Emissions of greenhouse gases pollutants, agricultural production, losses & wastage, groundwater stress, and raw – materials use may all be mitigated in a way that still satisfies people’s essential requirements, and these solutions have already been found by the private sector and many government. Agriculture, fisheries, forest, organic components, and infrastructure are some of the key causes of biodiversity and natural loss, thus it’s time to adopt these solutions on a large enough scale to make a difference.
Final Words
For success in describing a goal set like the one described above, it is essential that a consensus and convergence develop. We regard WWF as just one voice in this discussion, and we’re eager to hear from anyone who has something to add to the topic at hand.
An extensive shift in how we interact with Earth is now required. We understand the issues and the necessary solutions. The stakes are high, but the rewards are enormous.