The current generic extinction rates, driven by human activity and climate crisis, are 35 times higher than rates that prevailed in the last million years. Researchers believe a sixth “mass extinction” in Earth’s history is under way and accelerating.
Scientists established that it would have taken 18,000 years for closely related animal species to vanish in the absence of humans. At least 73 mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species groupings, as per the report, have gone extinct since 1500.
Current losses are being accelerated by habitat destruction, climate crisis and illegal trade in wildlife.
Climate Crisis Driving Extinction
Scientists agree that the climate crisis is the major factor behind the sixth mass extinction, with unsustainable food production and consumption being significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. And this is causing temperatures to rise, thus heat waves.
Climate crisis is bringing droughts, heavy rainfall, and more frequent and intense hurricanes and cyclones. It makes the challenges difficult and makes habitats inhospitable. The latest study highlighted that mutilation of the tree of life and loss of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity to humanity is a serious threat to civilization.
It recommends immediate political, economic and social efforts are essential to prevent extinctions and the societal impacts.
Still Time to Overcome Climate Crisis
Professor Ceballos, an expert, believes the results of the study were worse than they expected. However, he believes there’s still time to act. Ceballos explained that losing genera means losing the foundations of the very planet that we live in.
“The combination of the gasses in the atmosphere that allows us to have life on the planet depends on plants, animals and organisms. People say that we are alarmist by saying that we expect a collapse. We are alarmists because we are alarmed.” The expert reiterated that we still have time. But the window of opportunity is closing rapidly. “There is hope but we need to act quickly.”
Another scientist described the study as a “stark warning”. He said Earth is in serious jeopardy. “With extinction rates from a whole range of species and species groups being so much higher than we’d typically expect, it’s hard to see why global governments, businesses and the public are not doing everything possible to mitigate this devastating loss.”
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Scientists warn extinction is irreversible and impossible to predict.
