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, drawn up 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 brink 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 unaltered by man is increasingly smaller,” says Sandra Diaz, co-author of the report and professor 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 aquatic areas have been altered: 40% of amphibians, 30% of coral reefs and 33% of all marine mammals are on the brink of destruction.
“The health of the ecosystems on which our lives depend is 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 instruments that can show how much the Earth has worsened because of our action,”
Guenter Mitlacher, WWF
“We are also the last generation with the possibility of turning the tide.”
This means overcoming economic models based on myth of “growth infinite” and change 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 objectives will be set by the (unproductive) 2015 agreement in Paris.