One of Europe’s most powerful supercomputers has made a dire prediction: Earth is heading towards a major mass extinction event, and it will likely occur within this century. The computer model, operated by the European Commission, estimates that over 25% of the species we have today will become extinct by the year 2100.
Researchers Corey Bradshaw and Giovanni Strona published these alarming findings in the journal Sciences Advances. Their analysis suggests that, at best, the planet will experience a 17.6% loss in vertebrate diversity by 2100. However, in the worst-case scenario, the Earth could suffer a staggering 27% reduction in animal diversity. This decline in biodiversity will have severe long-term consequences for the human population.
What makes this prediction even more alarming is that the supercomputer concludes that this mass extinction event is unavoidable. No matter what actions we take to prevent it, the event will occur.
Bradshaw and Strona emphasize that conservation efforts need to consider the complex interactions within ecosystems and their impact on extinction processes. They warn that without incorporating this understanding into conservation planning, the goal of averting the ongoing biodiversity crisis will become impossible to achieve.
However, just because a supercomputer tells us we can’t completely avoid disaster doesn’t mean we should give up. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) stresses the urgent need for action to halt the sixth mass extinction event. The WWF recommends that world leaders increase their commitments to reducing carbon emissions as agreed upon in the Paris Agreement.
Additionally, the WWF advocates for support of the 30×30 initiative, which aims to preserve 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. The organization believes that grassroots activism can play a significant role in creating positive change and urges readers to join these efforts.
Overall, the situation is dire, but there is still hope if we act swiftly and decisively to protect our planet’s biodiversity.
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