Global Destruction of Nature: A Critical Issue

By Jake Spring

Introduction
Global destruction of nature has reached unprecedented extremes. The United Nations COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, aims to address this rapid decline and its economic significance.

Animals and Plants

Plants and animals are vital for ecosystem health, from cycling nutrients to aerating soils. Over 45,300 species face extinction according to IUCN. Notable endangered species include Mexico's vaquita porpoise, the northern white rhinoceros, and the red wolf. Monitored wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970.

Forests

Forests house 68% of mammal species, making deforestation a key indicator of nature's destruction. In 2021, over 100 countries pledged to halt deforestation by 2030, yet deforestation was 45% higher than needed as of 2023. Rates are declining in Brazil but rising in Bolivia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fishing & Oceans

Fishing is the primary cause of marine wildlife destruction, with over 38% of fish stocks overfished compared to 10% in the 1970s. More than 40 countries rely heavily on seafood for protein. 2023 marked the fourth global coral mass bleaching, affecting over half of reef areas.

Farming

Agriculture contributes to 90% of tropical deforestation. Governments spend at least $635 billion annually on harmful agricultural subsidies, with a call to identify and reduce them by 2025. Between January 2023 and June 2024, banks provided around $77 billion in credit to deforestation-related sectors.

Economic Impacts

Natural resources and services provide about $44 trillion of global economic output. The collapse of ecosystem services could cost the global economy $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. Spending on nature needs to increase from $200 billion to $542 billion per year by 2030 to meet climate goals.