The Earth’s biodiversity is at risk and new goals have been written in the Zero Draft. This is a framework of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. According to the new goals, a third of Earth’s species will need protection and we need to cut pollution by half.
A decade ago in Japan, a similar framework was agreed upon. Unfortunately, the world did not follow the framework and as a result, we are seeing species reach near-extinction levels at the fastest pace in our history.
The new framework’s goals are even harder to reach than the previous one. This may be a signal that the sixth mass extinction event is beginning to occur. And climate change is the catalyst.
What Is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is a term that is used frequently, but not explained. To put it simply, it is the variety of life that exists in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
It is important because each ecosystem is different. When one species disappears from that ecosystem, the entire food chain is often disrupted. For example, if a predator typically hunts one kind of animal and that animal was to say go extinct, the predator would need new prey or else starve.
This creates a vicious cycle that constantly changes the food chain. And in very fragile ecosystems, recovery is next to impossible. Thus, the only option is to prevent it in the first place.
Essentially, once a particular species disappears, the entire ecosystem is at risk. However, in this case, it is on a global scale. And it will not only affect the wildlife.
Can We Avoid Mass Extinction?
Absolutely. The entire premise of this framework is to protect our very fragile ecosystems around the world. It lists clear goals that countries around the world need to follow if we wish to avoid it.
If by 2030 we can reach our goals and maintain them for 20 years, many of the world’s ecosystems will recover by 2050.
However, this is assuming the world can actually, or even attempts, to meet these goals. The last framework from 2010 was met with utter failures, and this time around the goals are even larger.
While it is absolutely possible to avoid this fate, it is extremely unlikely that the world will meet the new targets.
