Biodiversity and the climate crisis are interrelated
The biodiversity and climate crises are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. This makes it all the more important to address both crises integrally, researchers write in a new fact sheet published by the Swiss Academy of Sciences. Many measures, such as reducing CO2 emissions and protecting and restoring ecosystems, counteract both crises.
The biodiversity and climate crises are mutually reinforcing. Climate change is currently the third most important cause of biodiversity loss; from 2050, it will even be the most important. Conversely, ecosystems are enormous carbon reservoirs and important CO2-Sink. Vegetation and the oceans reabsorb about half of the carbon released through the burning of fossil fuels and land-use changes. Combating climate change and preserving and promoting intact ecosystems therefore have a fundamentally positive impact on both crises. This is what the AAcademy of Sciences Switzerland (SCNAT) recently communicated
One example is peatland protection
Peatlands cover 3 percent of the global land area, but store about 21 percent of soil carbon, according to SCNAT. This is about twice as much as the total carbon in the form of CO2 in the atmosphere. In Switzerland, peatlands would cover 0.5 percent of the land area and harbor 25 percent of endangered plant species. Rewetting peatlands promotes biodiversity and mitigates climate change and its consequences. A win-win situation is also possible with many other measures - properly implemented, SCNAT said. In the conversion to renewable energies, for example, areas already in use should be strongly prioritized, small hydropower plants should only be promoted in exceptional cases, and mining should be sustainably oriented.
Systemic thinking and action are needed to identify synergies and minimize conflicting goals, say the researchers. Measures that promote sustainable living in Switzerland are particularly effective, they say. Specifically, the researchers suggest several approaches. According to SCNAT, these include the transition to a sustainable economy as well as environmental requirements for the financial sector and the reduction and restructuring of subsidies that are harmful to the climate and biodiversity. In addition, decarbonization should be promoted, land use conflicts overcome, the consumption of meat and dairy products reduced and the funds for nature conservation increased, as the committee writes in conclusion.
Source: SCNAT
The published fact sheet "Protecting climate and biodiversity together" is available online as PDF in German, French and English à Link to the fact sheet
Other topics:
- Commitment to more biodiversity honored
- Biodiversity initiative: Consultation on counter-proposal opened
