The news that one million species are under threat of extinction due to human impact has caused apprehension worldwide. The report released by the UN adds that the process of the devastation of the environment has been steadily accelerating.
The data were compiled and evaluated through the Intergovernmental Platform for Scientific Policies on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( IPBES ). The work compiles studies of 145 scientists in 50 countries, including Brazil, in addition to contributions from 300 other authors.
The main factors, the report points out, are changes in land and ocean use, the exploitation of organisms, climate change and pollution. Greenhouse gas emissions, for example, have doubled over the past three decades, raising temperatures by 0.7 ° C.
On the same day, however, another scientific study brought us some encouragement saying that nature itself might help us avoid a bleak future. Scientists at the University of Southampton have signaled that adaptive capacity can free some species from extinction. In the article “ Genetic adaptation to the climatic changes ”, they conclude that the risk of species extinction may be overestimated by not considering the adaptability of the animals.
The scientists studied the DNA of bats native to the Mediterranean, a region particularly affected by global warming. They identified parts of the genome associated with weather conditions. In analyzing them, they realized that there were two groups: the most adapted to the hot and dry climate and the most adapted to cold and humidity.
“The bats’ survival predictions are based on the reduction of their habitat because of global warming. The premise is that all species respond in the same way to change. We enabled a new approach, considering the ability to adapt to different climatic conditions, “says Professor Orly Razgour, lead researcher, in the report published.
The possible decrease in the number of species at risk of extinction due to the adaptability of species, however, does not exempt us from the need to promote a significant change in our habits and in the way we interact with nature.
Technologies at the service of the planet
Another key battlefront for a sustainable future is technological advancement. Clean technologies for generating energy from renewable sources can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A report by the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) points out that renewable energy already represents 1/3 of the global installed power – the solar photovoltaic source is the main driver of this growth.
In addition to the obvious climate benefits, distributed energy generation causes less impact on local habitats and contributes to the preservation of biodiversity. It is a worldwide trend. It involves the cheapening of equipment due to technological innovations and also the empowerment of consumers, who are increasingly prone to invest in self-generating energy. Governments and business are responsible for stimulating and enabling the planet’s energy transition to a cleaner matrix.