Climate change and biodiversity loss are closely related and should be addressed together

Sometimes by trying to find a solution to a problem, there is a possibility of us creating damage in a different place. Essentially, some approaches to tackling climate change can have unintended knock-on consequences for nature and biodiversity.

The Intergovernmental Scientific and Political Platform on Biodiversity (IPBES), an independent body, is going to publish a report in December on the fact that climate change and biodiversity loss are closely connected and should be addressed together, not in isolation.

Here is an example for our better understanding. Intentionally injecting iron into the oceans to boost microplankton population may seem a good item but geoengineering techniques have frequently raised serious concerns among experts about potential repercussions.

Look at the bigger picture and not just one issue

In 2022, the Foundation for Biodiversity Research stressed that: ” Measures taken to mitigate climate change must be evaluated according to their overall benefits and risks and not only according to their carbon footprint.”

Tom Oliver at the University of Reading also highlighted that since crises like climate change and biodiversity loss are so complex and interconnected, focusing on just a single aspect of the problem is not going to be enough ever.

In the quest for solutions to some of the most daunting challenges facing the Earth today, it is absolutely necessary to look at the bigger picture and not just one issue. Experts are currently pushing for nature-based solutions that benefit biodiversity, climate and populations.