Iconic species' survival is at risk now that they feel the heat.

Climate change, pollution, and habitat loss threaten biodiversity

Koala (photo: Photo by David Clode)

Like a child destroying its toy to see how it worked, we eliminate the unique and diverse beauty of this planet while we enjoy it. Cruise ships like to sail to unspoiled nature where they spoil nature, and animal lovers that love to collect rare animal species are responsible for wiping out the very thing they love. It gives us all an element of John Fowles' character Frederick Clegg who destroys what he loves; it's a scary thought.

Species risk going extinct even before scientists knew they existed

The Australian biodiversity still has to be fully documented, and at current rates, it would take 400 years to describe all the species that scientists expect to be present. Therefore, in the first week of June this year (Week 22), the Australian Academy of Science Australia proposed to the government to embark on an urgent mission to formally document the nation's biodiversity. With an estimated 750,000 different species of plants, animals, and insects, it's a huge task, especially since about 70% of these species are either not yet discovered or have not yet been formally described in the scientific literature. And like the boy and the toy, these scientists fear that more than half a million undiscovered plants and animals may go extinct even before scientists ever knew they existed. So our planet needs a label warning 'handle with care,' especially when the earth is left in the hands of the rich and powerful that consider it their playground.

The fate of nature

It is not just Australia where biodiversity feels the impacts of our destruction of the stable climate and the environment. In the same Week 22, in early June this year, WWF published: "Feeling the Heat; the fate of nature beyond 1.5C global warming." It is a sober report highlighting 12 species experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change. WWF outlines how their future depends on humanity's urgent response.

The difference between 1,5 and 2C may sound insignificant. Still, for instance, it is highly significant for coral. A half-degree makes the difference between 70 percent loss and losing virtually all coral reefs at 2 C. Or look at insects, where 6 percent will be affected at 1,5C, but 18 percent at 2C.

Heatwaves

But, as in every story I write about the rapid changes in nature, there is a warning for us. Take heatwaves as an example. At 1.5C, 9 percent of the world's population will be exposed to extreme heatwaves at least once every 20 years. At 2C, that percentage rises to 28 percent.

Atlantic puffin (photo: Ray Hennessy)

The report is full of sad stories of unique species getting into trouble, and the troublemaker is always us. Take the lovely Atlantic puffin. Their numbers have been crashing for the past two decades. Yet, we still fish their fish, let them entangle themselves in our fishing gear, and warmer waters disturb the clockwork coordination between all species in the food chain.

Snow leopard (Irbis1983, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Because of us, nature is out of sync. The report also describes the beautiful snow leopard. Sadly, there are just some 4,000 of them left in the wild and threatened by poaching, habitat destruction, and conflicts with people over livestock. It is hard to read reports like this, although a message gives hope: we can avoid the worst if we keep the planet's warming below 1.5C. And as I wrote in previous newsletters: it is doable; we have the knowledge and techniques. The main thing that is missing is political will.

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What I wrote in week 22

How NATO should prepare for climate change

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Meanwhile, on the island:

Yes, that's correct. Unexpectedly, I am back on the island where I wrote to you this summer. This return was unplanned. Strangely, while looking at my pictures of this year, I just realized that it was precisely in Week 22 I described today that I arrived for my extended stay on this island that started on June 7. I will show you some pictures of the first week of June this year.

I loved the bright colors of green in Ottawa in late spring.

Can you see it?

My first evening back on the island, I enjoyed the beauty of nature, like here at sunset.

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The back page

You may have seen this one before, an old one from Luna, I guess some three years ago.

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Notes:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/02/scientists-propose-urgent-824m-mission-to-document-australias-undiscovered-plants-and-animals

https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-06/FEELING_THE_HEAT_REPORT.pdf

Photos

Koala: Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Snow leopard: Irbis1983, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Atlantic puffin: Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash