By the end of 2024, nearly 200 nations will gather at three key conferences to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, and plastic pollution. These summits aim to evaluate commitments to protect natural ecosystems, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and devise a global treaty on plastic waste, amidst a backdrop of alarming environmental trends and interconnected crises that demand comprehensive and urgent action.
In the coming months, nearly 200 nations are set to convene at three pivotal conferences aimed at addressing urgent global issues, namely biodiversity loss, climate change, and plastic pollution. Colombia will host discussions next week to evaluate progress toward the goal of protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine ecosystems by the year 2030. Subsequently, the Conference of the Parties (COP29) will take place in Azerbaijan, where nations will review commitments made to reduce reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate disruption. In December, South Korea may witness the inception of a comprehensive global treaty addressing plastic waste. It is essential to understand that climate change, biodiversity degradation, and resource depletion are not standalone issues. As emphasized by biologist Liette Vasseur of Brock University, political scientist Anders Hayden from Dalhousie University, and ecologist Mike Jones at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, “Climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion are not isolated problems; they are part of an interconnected web of crises that demand urgent and comprehensive action.” Focusing on climate change, the vital query remains: “How hot is it going to get?” This question, explored by climate scientists Seth Wynes of the University of Waterloo and H. Damon Matthews of Concordia University, underscores the importance of understanding the climate sensitivity to greenhouse gas emissions and the cumulative impact of human activity. Despite the current temperature increase of about 1.3°C, devastating impacts such as flooding, heatwaves, and wildfires are already being observed, signaling the need for stringent measures before reaching the projected 2.7°C threshold by 2100. Models predicting future climate scenarios do not adequately factor in the potential collapse of natural carbon sinks, such as forests and wetlands, which are struggling under unprecedented stress—evidenced by the alarming report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) showing a 73% decline in monitored populations of vertebrate wildlife since 1970. The degradation of ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest, poses threats to biodiversity, which in turn affects climate regulation. Plastic pollution poses a similarly dire challenge. As articulated by Karen Raubenheimer, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong, microplastics have permeated even the most remote regions of the globe, causing toxic effects that are observed throughout the food chain. Additionally, experts like Costas Velis from the University of Leeds highlight the parallels between addressing plastic production and fossil fuel usage, underscoring the necessity for immediate production caps on plastic to prevent further environmental degradation. While attending these summits is critical for mitigating modern society’s impact on natural ecosystems, scholars such as political ecologists Bram Büscher and Rosaleen Duffy argue that merely protecting 30% of the Earth may not sufficiently halt biodiversity loss if underlying economic pressures continue to exploit and degrade natural habitats. They caution that the expansion of protected areas may not address the root causes of biodiversity decline, including urbanization and pollution. In conclusion, the upcoming summits in Colombia, Azerbaijan, and South Korea are crucial opportunities for global cooperation in addressing the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution. These discussions should emphasize not only the preservation of natural habitats but also the urgent need for systemic changes in economic practices to ensure the preservation of ecosystems that underpin life on Earth.
As climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution increasingly threaten global ecosystems, more than 190 countries will hold three major conferences by the end of 2024. The conferences aim to foster international cooperation and develop actionable plans to combat these critical environmental challenges. One of the key goals is to establish protective measures for 30% of the world’s ecosystems by 2030, addressing the rapid decline of wildlife populations, the urgent need for climate action, and the growing crisis of plastic waste. The interconnectedness of these issues is highlighted by experts who emphasize that without a holistic approach to environmental policy, efforts to mitigate one issue may fall short of effectively addressing the others. The impact of human activities, such as deforestation, carbon emissions, and plastic production, exacerbates these crises, underlining the need for comprehensive strategies involving conservation and sustainable practices.
The upcoming summits in Colombia, Azerbaijan, and South Korea represent vital steps towards global environmental stewardship. By addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and plastic pollution, nations can leverage these discussions to implement innovative policies and practices. However, success will require not only protective measures for ecosystems but also a fundamental reassessment of current economic practices that contribute to environmental degradation.
Original Source: phys.org
