A worrying study revealed that the consequences of climate change will be disastrous for the future of the Earth. And that we could face global extinction. The survival of half of the plant and animal species present in the world’s most important natural sites would be at imminent risk.
WARN THAT THE EARTH IS THREATENED BY GLOBAL EXTINCTION
The scientists’ projections, published on 14 March in the journal Climatic Change, are genuinely alarming. The first thing to be seen is that many plant species will begin to disappear as the temperature of the planet increases by 2°C.
Subsequently, more than half of all plant species would eventually become extinct if the Earth’s temperature were to rise by 3 degrees or more.
What would come next is even more worrying? Scientists point out that the forests in warm climate countries would merely disappear, i.e., South America, Australia, the nations of Southeast Asia would lose all their forest resources in a few decades.
Even plant and animal species in the world’s most vibrant natural areas. Such as the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands, could face total extinction.
The most striking aspect of the study is that, even if the objectives established by the Paris Climate Agreement are met. These regions could lose 25% of their biological diversity in a few years.
If we continue as we are, by the year 2100 the disappearance of current habitats would negatively affect most of the living species on the planet, from insects to mammals to amphibians.
Climatologists at the University of East Anglia, James Cook University. And the conservation organization WWF believe that the only way to prevent global extinction is to limit the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere and prevent the emergence of uncontrolled industries.