Studies show that Earth’s most beloved creatures have gone extinct under current emissions

Snow leopards in the Himalayas, lemurs in Madagascar and elephants in Central Africa: Some of the largest on Earth beloved creatures they are on the verge of extinction, a new study shows, due to the current one greenhouse gas emissions. If humans do not stop pumping carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, researchers say the planet’s biodiversity will have devastating consequences.

In a study published Friday in the journal Biological Conservation, scientists warn that some of the richest concentrations of plants and animals on Earth will be “irreversibly devastated” by global warming, unless countries make a real effort to their objectives achieved under The Paris Climate Treaty of 2015. It reports a high danger of extinction in almost 300 “hot spots” of biodiversity if temperatures rise by three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Under the The Paris Agreement, the nations promised to keep warming “well below” two degrees Celsius. Even if these commitments are honored, temperatures are expected to exceed three degrees Celsius before the end of the century.

So which species will be most affected? Scientists point endemic species: Plants and animals found exclusively in specific locations, such as a country or an island – animals such as snow leopards and forest elephants.

They found that endemic land species, especially in hot areas with biodiversity, are almost three times more likely to suffer losses due to climate change than species that are more widespread and 10 times more likely than invasive species.

“Climate change threatens areas overflowing with species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” lead author Stella Manes said in a statement. “The risk of such species being lost forever increases more than 10 times if we miss the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

Not all species face the same threat. In mountainous regions, 84% of endemic species face extinction if the Earth warms by another two degrees, while the number increases to 100% on islands.

In general, more than 90% of terrestrial endemic species and 95% of marine species will be adversely affected. Mediterranean marine species they are particularly vulnerable because they are trapped in a closed sea.

“By nature, these species cannot easily move into more favorable environments,” explains co-author Mark Costello.

Two out of three species in the tropics could only perish due to climate change. And safe paradises in biodiversity hotspots, which conservationists have worked to establish for years to protect these species, may prove unnecessary in the face of climate change.

“Unfortunately, our study shows that those areas rich in biodiversity will not be able to act as species sheltered from climate change,” said co-author Mariana Vale.

Scientists say that every tenth of a degree counts to avoid the devastating consequences of one mass extinction event. But the levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere he continued to get up in 2020, the CO2 level will reach its highest point in 3.6 million years.

“The growth in 2020 will probably remain one of the largest in the entire record.” said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.