Highlights on UN IPBES report on species loss: Damage isn't permanent, as long as we remedy it soon, dramatically

Fin.

And with that, the livestream & our liveblog today comes to a close.

Experts hope the report spurs fast and powerful action

This is not the end of the IPBES Global Assessment process. Over the months to come, the committee will process with the next sessions: ‘Uptake’ & ‘Impact’ of the report internationally.

How do these findings impact cities? 

Everything from urban green space to parks (which have their own positive effects on mental health & childhood learning), to managing some of the problems that affect stormwater systems or even urban pollution. What happens around the world comes back to affect everyone in some way or the other, be it climate or trade or learning, Dr Kate Braman, Member of the IPBES expert panel, says.

Mining uninhabited land can’t be avoided, but the process

Mining untapped land isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s a political and socioeconomic issue. One suggestion that could make interests in Antarctica and the Amazon less harsh is turning mining model into a circular economic one. The industry needs to face the impacts of its actions to ensure they are responsibly conducted, Eduardo Brondizio, IPBES Co-chair says.

Food production strategies need to change

In developing countries, cutting meat in diets and farming is a big focus area for modifying food production process. Change in the way food is disposed and the process of processing & storage is a key focus area for change.

Antibiotic resistance is also partly a human-induced crisis

We have evidence that evolution can go really fast under human pressure, and the rising cases of antibiotic resistance are just that: bacteria, fungi rapidly grow resistant to drugs, Professor Diaz, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment.

The damage isn’t permanent yet, but we need to act dramatically, and fast

While this is a case of ‘death by a thousand cuts’, there is still time for the planet to recover from it if our actions to recover it are drastic, Dr Kate Raman, Member, IPBES expert panel, says.

When do we pass tipping points, irreversible changes?

Some of the most rapidly changing ecosystems that are being affected by climate change are something worrying. Corals, bleaching & their impact on oceans will be some of the most impactful changes from climate change over the next few years. Large changes in the Tundras, Arctic and polar ecosystems are also a big concern. They’re covered by ice, and as it melts, the feedback on rising temperature & climate change will be something we’ll see in the near future. There are two alarming examples, says Professor Paul Leadley, Member, IPBES expert panel.

Wetlands are another concern, as they’re being lost pretty rapidly, adds Eduardo Brondizio, IPBES Co-chair.

Undeniably the most comprehensive on the subject to date

“What species, what areas, what implications, what scale? There are multiple aspects of species loss that no previous report has looked at before,” says Eduardo Brondizio, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment.

“This is also the most interdisciplinary look at how nature, communities, economies are interlinked,” adds Professor Diaz, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment. 

Our single, interconnected web of life ensure that’s we’re doomed together

There may be differences between regions and nations, but the planet is becoming increasingly unequal. This differential impact will only grow worse — Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, in particular. It’s important to remember how interconnected we are.

What happens in one part of the world will affect the rest of the world. And that isn’t a metaphor. We’ve got the findings & a report to back that now, says Professor Sandra Diaz, Co-chair, Global Assessment.

How can pressure be put on the economic player to bring about a paradigm shift?

We need to eliminate subsidies that are harmful to the environment — some companies are even incentivized to do business harmful to the environment. That, for one, needs to stop. There’s many that like “GDP” as an economic model for the world. It doesn’t account for natural, human or social capital, and needs to change.

People with vested interests will oppose it. But governments need to be motivated and stay focussed on the goal at hand, says Sir Robert Watson. 

Education is a big part of sustainable change

Sustainability needs to be part of school curriculums for the changes we make to be lasting. It is, after all, the heritage of our future generation at stake, says Audrey Azoulay, Director-General UNESCO.

I’m often asked, what is the scale of the problem, the urgency? 

If we do not act now, our threatened species, which are in the thousands today, will be as extinct as the Dodo. I wear these cufflinks to remind me that time isn’t running out, it already has. And that should weigh on us all till we act on the crisis responsibly, Robert Watson, Former IPBES Chair.

There is a need for the inclusion of indigenous people and integration of biodiversity 

Biodiversity is important in its own right. We, humans, are destroying it, and adding to the economic gap that already exists in society today. Biodiversity needs to be accounted into math we do during decision making — it has economic value, too, which we’ve blindly ignored thus far, says Robert Watson, Former IPBES Chair.

We’ve ignored warnings for 30 years and counting

Biodiversity isn’t just a nature issue. It’s an economic, moral, political and security issue. We are on the road to undermining human wellbeing for generations to come, says Robert Watson, Former IPBES Chair. Report only adds details to a message to a message that scientists have been reporting for 30 years, he adds.

Five direct drivers of change in Nature:

1. Changes in land & seas

2. Direct exploitation of organism

3. Climate change 

4. Pollution

5. Invasion by alien species

Small successes towards sustainability are already making news

Transformative change is already happening — in many sectors. There are many success stories already emerging from world over, but this isn’t enough. These changes need to be commonplace for us to meet our goals — nurture & nature, says Eduardo Brondizio, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment.

Both, the problems & solutions to climate change are local

We need to think in context-specific ways, find solutions that look at local carbon emission rates, local pollution levels and local destruction. The solutions, too, need to be local, says Eduardo Brondizio, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment.

Integration across countries is a must

We need to start thinking in an integrated, international way and draft policies for conservation and sustainability in a similar way, says Eduardo Brondizio, Co-Chair of the Global Assessment report.

The time to act for a better future is NOW!

Indicators towards Sustainable Development Goals 

As the rate we’re going today, we’re on the road to missing the global Sustainable Development Goals by a large margin, Dr Josef Settele, Co-chair of the Global Assessment Report ha said.

More species of plants and animals are being lost in this decade than ever before. 

Broad look at what questions the IPBES 2019 report answers

Millions of hours & dollars worth of work

About 40 million hours & $ 40 million have gone into the making of this report over the 5 years that experts have spent on it, says Anne Laringauderie, Executive Secretary of the IPBES. 

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General UNESCO

Rober Spaul, Head Communication, IPBES kicks off the launch of the report.

Species loss: A slow and silent crisis

There’s a reason this report warrants worldwide. Unlike rising temperatures, which have had seen a massive rise in public awareness around the world, the slow loss of nature was a “more silent crisis,” he said.

While the powers that be need to take constructive steps, we need to do our bit as well!!

Nature needs us to be proactive and save what’s left of our species. 

Watch the launch of the report live at 4:30 IST

Study of changes to land, water ecosystems over 50 years

The report doesn’t survey all life on Earth. Instead, it focusses on changes to all ecosystems on land (except that of Antarctica), inland waterways and open oceans over the past 50 years. Some of the aspects that the report will cover is how the loss of species affects economies, livelihoods, food security and quality of life. 

Conservation & sustainability of ecosystem a key area of focus

The IPBES team of researchers has worked with indigenous people to put together the 1,800-page summary for policymakers in conservation & sustainability of ecosystems, including our own. 

Live webcast of some of the key findings from the report starting 4.30 pm IST

Sneak preview at the report’s highlights

Here’s a look at some of the broad conclusions drawn in the United Nations report .

Crux of the IPBES Report

The report is expected to provide policymakers with an evidence-based look at the loss of species in Nature over the past decades, and what can be done to meet biodiversity targets, Sustainable Development Goals and other global objectives for natural diversity.

Hello Earthlings! 

We’re now less than an hour away from the launch of a major UN report that looks at the state and diversity of Nature as it stands today.