Earth’s most beloved creatures headed for extinction under current emissions, according to the study

Snow leopards in the Himalayas, lemurs in Madagascar and elephants in central Africa: some of the most terrestrial beloved creatures they are on the verge of extinction, according to a new study, thanks to the present Greenhouse gas emissions. Unless humans stop pumping carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, researchers say the planet’s biodiversity will suffer 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 achieve the its objectives in accordance with the Paris Climate Treaty 2015. They report a high danger of extinction at nearly 300 “hot spots” of biodiversity if temperatures rise three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

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

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

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

“Climate change threatens areas overflowing with species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” the author said in a statement Stella Manes. “The risk of these species being lost forever increases more than tenfold if we lose 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 two degrees more, while this number rises to 100% on the 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 be easily moved to more favorable environments,” explains co-author Mark Costello.

Two out of three species in the tropics could perish only from climate change. I safe havens at biodiversity hotspots, which conservationists have worked to establish for years to protect these species, may prove useless in the face of climate change.

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

Scientists say that every tenth of a degree is important to avoid the devastating consequences of one mass extinction event. But the levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere continued to climb in 2020, with the CO2 level reaching its highest point in 3.6 million years.

“The 2020 increase is likely to remain one of the largest in the entire record.” said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.