Planet Earth braces for a period of widespread species extinction, according to scientific researchers
In a groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science, a team of 17 leading ecologists and climate scientists from around the world have confirmed that Earth has entered the sixth mass extinction era. The findings, reported by Almaty.tv citing "Rambler", suggest that this current extinction differs from previous ones as it is driven largely by human activities rather than natural events like asteroid impacts or volcanic eruptions.
The study, which reviewed approximately 150 works from top universities globally on environmental changes, highlights the unprecedented and accelerating rate of species loss. Recent extinctions number at least 680 vertebrate species in just the past 500 years, and up to one million species could face extinction in the coming decades, including vast numbers of insects and other biodiversity crucial to ecosystems.
The drivers of this mass extinction include habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, all linked to growing human industrial and population pressures. Professor Corey Bradshaw of Flinders University in Australia warns that the threat to the biosphere and all its forms of life is severe due to soil degradation caused by human population growth.
The study also points to the growing toxicity of the Earth due to increased production of synthetic compounds and hazardous single-use plastics. Climate tipping points and extreme warming have been linked to past mass extinctions, with fossil evidence showing how tropical forest collapse exacerbated carbon cycle warming in Earth’s history. Ocean acidification caused by rapid rises in atmospheric CO2 has also triggered mass extinctions, illustrating how modern increases in CO2 could similarly devastate marine ecosystems.
Independent expert assessments, such as those from the United Nations, reinforce that biodiversity loss is accelerating toward critical tipping points. If these solutions are not implemented, humanity faces a future of mass extinction, widespread health deterioration, and other climate disruption-induced shocks.
While the study does not detail extensive solutions, the general expert consensus and implications from these findings suggest urgent reduction of human impacts on ecosystems, including habitat preservation and restoration. Mitigation of climate change through drastically lowering carbon emissions is also crucial to avoid crossing dangerous climate and carbon cycle tipping points. Global cooperation and policy action are necessary to protect endangered species and ecosystems highlighted in UN reports.
Using paleontological history to guide interventions that might prevent crossing thresholds that amplify warming and ecological collapse is another suggested solution. Scientists predict that around 20% of all existing species will be at risk of extinction in the next few decades. To halt or reverse this sixth extinction, immediate and sustained efforts targeting the root ecological disruptions caused by human activities, especially climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, are required. These efforts, informed in part by lessons from past mass extinction events revealed by fossil and geological records, could offer humanity a chance to preserve the planet's biodiversity and secure a sustainable future.
- The study in environmental science, which reviewes approximately 150 works from top universities globally on environmental changes, emphasizes the threat posed by climate change, one of the major drivers of the current mass extinction era.
- In the context of health and wellness, the continuing loss of biodiversity due to human activities, particularly climate change, could pose risks to various ecosystems that support vital life forms, ultimately leading to potential medical-conditions and troubles for human health.
- As the Earth enters the sixth mass extinction era, highlighted by the study in Frontiers in Conservation Science, it is imperative that efforts in environmental science, such as reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, are implemented to prevent further damage to the climate and the environment, preserving a sustainable future for all life forms, including those essential for ecosystems and human health.
