Published: 2022-06-22

Animals in the Era of Climate Crisis

Piotr Skubała Logo ORCID

Abstract

We are currently observing the sixth Pleistocene-Holocene great extinction. Climate change is one of the significant factors contributing to the dramatic decline in wildlife diversity. Humanity took up the fight against climate change in 1992 by adopting the Framework Convention on Climate Change at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. Unfortunately, these efforts have not produced the expected results. Rising greenhouse gas emissions will lead to the extinction of half of the species on Earth by the end of this century. Limiting the temperature increase to 2°C by 2100 will mean a 25% reduction in species diversity. For most animal species, the race against progressive climate change is difficult and even impossible to win. Scientists warn that if we do not take immediate action, we will face a catastrophic loss of biodiversity. Wild vertebrate animals already account for no more than 4% of the biomass of all vertebrates, which is dramatically lower than the biomass of farmed animals.

Citation rules

Skubała, P. (2022). Animals in the Era of Climate Crisis. Zoophilologica. Polish Journal of Animal Studies, (1 (9), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA.2022.09.07

Cited by / Share

No. 1 (9) (2022)
Published: 2022-06-30


ISSN: 2719-2687
eISSN: 2451-3849
Ikona DOI 10.31261/ZOOPHILOLOGICA

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.