The apocalyptic genre is no longer the prerogative of cinema, and does not depend on external factors: a report published by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an important scientific board, points the finger at humankind, responsible without appeal for the extermination of one animal species out of 8.
The report, compiled by 145 scientists from 50 countries, investigated humanity's impact on the environment and concluded that of the 8 million known species on the planet, one million are on the verge of extinction solely because of humans.
Climate change, pollution, resource consumption and habitat destruction are the charges, crimes perpetrated "at a higher rate than in the past 10 million years, and growing exponentially."
"The part of the planet still unaffected by man is getting smaller and smaller," says Sandra Diaz, co-author of the report and lecturer at the University of Córdoba. "We absolutely must start acting as servants of life on Earth if we don't want to destroy it."
75% of the soil and 66% of the aquatic areas have been altered: 40% of the amphibians, 30% of the coral reefs and 33% of all marine mammals are on the verge of destruction.
"The health of the ecosystems on which our lives depend are degrading faster than ever," it echoes her Sir Robert Watson, another panel member. There is hope, yes, but only on condition that action is taken now.
"Ours is the first generation that has tools that can show how much the Earth has deteriorated as a result of our action,"
Guenter Mitlacher, WWF
"We are also the last generation with the possibility of reversing the course".
This means overcoming economic models based on the myth of "infinite growth" and changing the approach to crops, livestock and fishing. It means restoring damaged ecosystems.
2020 will be the year of two world summits on climate and environmental problems: new goals will be set by the (unproductive) agreement of 2015 in Paris.
