A third of Earth's species could disappear by 2100 due to climate change

Almost a third of species worldwide could be at risk of extinction by the end of the century due to climate change, according to a new study.

The study found that if global temperatures rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, exceeding the Paris Agreement target, extinctions would accelerate rapidly – ​​especially for amphibians; species in montane, island and freshwater ecosystems; and species in South America, Australia and New Zealand.

The Earth has already warmed about 1 degree Celsius since the Industrial Revolution.

Climate change is known to cause changes in temperatures and precipitation patterns, altering habitats and species interactions, they write. foreign media, the Telegraph reports.

While some species can adapt or migrate in response to changing environmental conditions, some cannot survive drastic environmental changes, resulting in population decline and sometimes extinction.

Global assessments have predicted increased extinction risks for over a million species, but scientists have not clearly understood how exactly this increased risk is linked to climate change.

The new study, published in the journal Science, analyzed over 30 years of biodiversity and climate change research, including over 450 studies of the most common species.

As reported, if greenhouse gas emissions are managed in accordance with the Paris Agreement, nearly 1 in 50 species worldwide – about 180,000 species – will be at risk of extinction by 2100.

When temperatures rise by 2,7 degrees Celsius, which is predicted under current international emissions commitments, 1 in 20 species worldwide would be at risk of extinction.

Hypothetical warming beyond this point causes the number of species at risk to increase significantly: 14.9% of species were at risk of extinction under a 4.3 degree Celsius warming scenario, which assumes high greenhouse gas emissions.

And 29,7% of all species would be at risk of extinction under a 5,4 degree Celsius warming scenario, a high estimate but one that is possible given current emissions trends.

Alternatively, limiting greenhouse gas emissions can slow warming and halt these increasing extinction risks, but understanding which species and ecosystems are most affected by climate change can also help target conservation efforts where they are needed. more. /Telegraph/