Destruction of Wildlife from Climate Change:
If someone asked you to list ten species on the verge of extinction, would you get all ten? Would you get five? When talking about climate change, the conversation surrounds the possible effects and consequences for our future. Most don't realize that the damage is happening. Since 1970, wildlife populations have declined on average by 73%. This isn't exclusive to just animals. All kinds of species are endangered because of the increasing temperatures. According to Martha Gill, 46,000 species face extinction including more than a third of the planet's trees.
In late 1980s early 1990s, people stopped talking about saving whales and rainforests and began talking about the increase in the earth's temperature. Global warming/Climate change became the headlines over the Save the Whales campaign.
Not a lot has been done about climate change. Very small moves have been made and every new crisis campaign that comes out, lasts a short amount of time before something else occupies the headlines. There is 8 times more coverage on the climate crisis than biodiversity loss. Where does this issue lie?
It lies in our minds. The idea of climate change is a slow moving, long process. There is no sense of urgency. If the conversation focused on the deaths of those affected and the current impacts, it's more likely that people will listen.
Endangered Animals:
Some species who have been lost since 2015, are the golden toad, the Pinta giant tortoise, the mountain mist frog, and several bats and birds.
Critically Endangered:
Amur Leopard (84), Black Rhino (6,500), Bornean Orangutang (104,700), Cross River Gorilla (200-300), Javan Rhino (76), Sumatran Elephant (2,400-2,800), Vaquita Dolphin (10), and Yangtze Finless Porpoise (1,000-1,800).
Endangered:
African Wild Dog (1,409), Black-footed ferret (370), Galapagos Penguin (2,000), Ganges River Dolphin (3,500-5,000), Red Panda (10,000), Tiger (5,574), and North Atlantic Whales (400).
What can we do?
The heat of our planet is rising, species all over the world are going extinct, and death is around every corner. So how do we help? What comes first? The animals or the temperature of the planet?
Even slightest temperature changes can wipe out entire ecosystems. We can't save species without dealing with the temperature of the planet, but we can't control the temperature without the help from nature.
As small it may seem, the most we can do is plant trees, increase the growth of species that survive on CO2 to help decrease the temperatures needed for others to survive. Only then will we be able to save the animals in need.
I had no idea how fast species on Earth are on the edge of becoming extinct. It makes sense that with acidifcation of the oceans and the destruction of a lot of aquatic ecosystems, would raise concerns for extinction. I like that you are informing us on what are critically endangered and endangered, while also giving us solutions how we can help reduce pollution.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy how much of this planet's wildlife is at risk with just a few changes in temperature. How many unique and beautiful animals are going to go extinct due to our negligence to our home planet.
ReplyDeleteThank you for listing the endangered species, it was very interesting to read through. It is such a shame though because those species are some of the most unique and cool animals. I wish it was more known just how many species are in this position because we only ever hear the typical, "saves the turtles".
ReplyDeleteWow, this blog really sheds light on a heartbreaking reality: the crossing of climate change and biodiversity loss. It's startling and sad to hear wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970.
ReplyDeleteThis is wildly disheartening. It's amazing to think that every species is going to go extinct at some point and be replaced by a new species but the rate at which this is happening is unreal. 73% in such a short time is uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteHow horrible and sad to see that we are losing so many animals and ecosystems to pollution and global warming/climate change. Humans should be able to protect and observe without harming our environment so often and seeing all the animals we have lost already. The extinction list is only growing in numbers and getting more animals endangered.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important idea since species that continue to bring about biodiversity, and ecologically contribute to the lives of other animals and humans are being lost to time. this is a direct result of climate change, and it saddens me that we aren't covering this as much on mainstream media since people are forgetting how important conservation efforts are. I am saddened to believe this data showing the trend in extinctions is only a dangerous omen signaling the human species' demise as well. As temperatures rise most mammals on earth will struggle to keep up, especially at the speed it is occurring.
ReplyDeleteI agree, mainstream media's approach towards and coverage of climate change's recently has been incredibly disappointing. Further, I share the same fear that based on extinction rates and trends in the past century our race will face mass extinction sooner than we expect
DeleteI think this is really interesting perspective especially because of how re-centering it is. I feel like in climate change discussions, the central concern is how we are effected. Our crops. Our land. Our finances. Our air. Our lives. We have to save the world from ourselves, for ourselves. But the reality is that the climate needs saving for all other creatures as well. And really that in and of itself should be enough of a reason.
ReplyDelete73% is an insane amount if you really think about it especially since 1970. This post is very heartbreaking to read, yet very informative. I also agree that the issue lies in our minds, we don't see what we've never experienced. It's truly only a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad that a lot of times "save the (insert animal here" is usually performative for most people. When the topic was "switch to paper straws to save the turtles" it was a good start but it needed more action than just occasionally not using a plastic. Also once it was not trendy people forgot about it. Thank you for listing all the different animals, I did not know all of them.
ReplyDeleteSadly, this doesn't come as a surprise to me. I've heard before that we are now within the sixth extinction (referencing the five previous mass extinctions where a majority of biodiversity vanished during each), and it makes sense, given the dramatic environmental changes that will be and are already coming from climate change. Life is always going to be able to adapt to change, but there will inevitably be life that cannot do it fast enough.
ReplyDeleteGood news is that there are successful captive breeding programs that are keeping endangered and critically endangered species alive, several of which have resulted in release of specimens into the wild. So there is hope!
I've always been aware of species endangerment, but I have found that there is very limited coverage on public media that sheds light on these issues. I had never considered that climate change topics would effect this, although I would assume it would be implied with the detrimental effects. I found it saddening to read of the true rate of which these species are declining, and really goes to show that there is not enough information made public about these specific occurrences.
ReplyDeleteThis is very well written, and I agree, having more trees helps reduce CO2 in the atmosphere and it also helps people see how much of an impact just one tree can have on its environment. I wonder how many seeds out of 46,000 threatened tree species have been stored.
ReplyDeleteI love that you included a list of critically endangered and endangered species and how many are currently left to really put things into perspective. Reading that 46,000 species of flora and fauna are facing extinction was nauseating. I agree that pushing these facts about the consequences climate change poses on our animals and plants might create motivation to make a change.
ReplyDelete"Where does this issue lie? It lies in our minds." Excellently said. It's the Lucretius Problem yet again, just like in Fire Weather.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting topic to look at. I did not know that so many species are endangered and risk extinction. You say that it is just not animals but did not mention specific ones. What types of trees face extinction? What can we do to help them?
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that media typically focuses on the climate crisis and future impacts rather than the devastation that is currently occurring. It seems to me that while activists and climate scientists have the ability to imagine the future effects, opponents of climate change do not so perhaps highlighting current problems/effects would be more beneficial in convincing those groups.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that intrigued be was the figure that included displaying the number of species each year on the critically endangered list. I noticed that amphibians jump from around 25 to over 400 in under a year. Do you know if this was a result of a specific event or perhaps a redefinition of amphibians around this time?
ReplyDeleteI love how you worded alot of this article especially how you said climate change is a slow moving in a long project this is very true there is no pressing urgency because the worst has yet to come but slowly the damage is piling and and becoming irreversible
ReplyDeleteThe necessity of tackling both problems at the same time is highlighted by the connection between biodiversity loss and climate change. We can lessen the negative effects of climate change on animals by concentrating on cutting greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging sustainable activities.
ReplyDeleteIt takes perhaps millions of years for an animal species to evolve, and when they are extinct, not even one left, they are gone forever. The always evolve as part of an ecosystem and play a role in that system. The End Permian, the "Great Dying," saw 70-90% of species going extinct from the impact of greenhouse gases. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian%E2%80%93Triassic_extinction_event
ReplyDeleteTo combat the climate crisis and prevent further extinction, we must address both the rising temperatures and protect ecosystems by supporting natural solutions like reforestation and sustainable practices.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Brynn! It’s shocking how fast wildlife is disappearing. Are there big efforts tackling both climate change and species protection? And what’s the best way people can help? Would love to hear more!
ReplyDeleteI would not have guessed that there would be such a large and vast amount of endangered species, let alone critically endangered. This blog post was eye-opening, and I thought the call-out of how the impact of climate change is often viewed as slow-moving yet is impacting these species at increasing speeds was a particularly strong point.
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