International Union for Conservation of Nature, announced at the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention
Over 44,000 endangered species… More than 2,000 types compared to last year
A report was announced at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) that climate change is worsening the Earth’s biodiversity crisis and accelerating the rapid decline in animal and plant populations.
According to the U.S. Associated Press on the 11th (local time), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that the number of species at risk of extinction due to climate change has increased by about 2,000 from last year to about 44,000. The Red List also has 157,000 species this year, an increase of about 7,000 species from last year. The Red List is the world’s most comprehensive list of the conservation status of plant and animal species on Earth presented by IUCN in 1963.
“Species around the world are under enormous pressure,” said Craig Hilton Taylor, head of IUCN’s Red List Department. “The number of species at risk of extinction is increasing too quickly.”
According to IUCN, salmon species are one of the species whose populations are rapidly decreasing due to global warming. Atlantic salmon are not yet at risk of extinction, but their population declined by a quarter between 2006 and 2020.
This update to the endangered species list includes the first-ever assessment of freshwater fish species. More than 3,000 fish species, equivalent to a quarter of the total, are at risk of extinction. As sea levels rise due to climate change, sea water flows back into rivers, reducing habitat.
IUCN explains that amphibians such as frogs and salamanders are the most vulnerable to climate change. “Amphibians are very easily affected by rising temperatures and droughts,” said Vivek Menon, vice-chairman of IUCN’s Species Survival Committee. “41% of all amphibians are at risk of extinction.”
“It is clear that humans must act to preserve biodiversity,” said IUCN Director-General Gretel Aguilar. “To combat the threat posed by climate change, we must gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels, which is a key issue at this year’s COP28.” insisted.
He added, “Nature exists to help us, so we must protect it.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.