Earth’s history has seen five mass extinction events. With species of animals, birds, insects and fish being lost at an alarming rate, are we entering a sixth? And if so, what can be done to prevent it?
It is estimated that global wildlife populations have fallen by 69% in the past 50 years alone and in addition to changes in land use, such as deforestation and pollution, climate change is a major driver in this decline.
From losses in natural habitat due to the “desertification” of rainforest areas to the decline in the water and vegetation, relied on by animals, due to drought, and the effect of the increase in extreme weather events, climate change is having increasingly significant effects on wildlife globally.
As temperatures rise and conditions become unliveable faster than species can migrate to less threatening surroundings, many experts believe that we are on course for even more drastic losses in wildlife.
In this edition of Climate Talks, our panel of experts looked at some of the effects of climate change on wildlife happening right now, the potential future impact of unchecked temperature rise and what can be done to prevent a sixth mass extinction.
Speakers:
- Dr Asha De Vos—Sri Lankan marine biologist and pioneer of blue whale research in the northern Indian Ocean. Senior TED Fellow and winner of a BBC 100 Women award in 2018.
- Professor Johan du Toit—Director of Science, London Zoo.
- Dr Gerardo Ceballos—Senior Researcher specialising in endangered species and ecological sustainability at the Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico.
- Professor Anne Sverdup-Thygeson—Professor of Conservation Biology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and author of Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. the Ones Who Run Our World and Tapestries: Uncovering the Lifesaving Secrets of the Natural World.
- Qasa Alom (Chair)—Host of numerous programmes in the sphere of climate and sustainability, including for The Climate Question on BBC World Service, and presenter of the BBC’s iconic Today at Wimbledon show.