How protecting the biodiversity of our planet protects us all

The document highlights a severe decline in animal populations since 1970 and argues that biodiversity is essential for human survival, economic stability, and climate resilience. It advocates for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, noting that over one billion people in poverty depend directly on healthy ecosystems. The author calls for a shift in global value chains, strong political will, and new business models to treat biodiversity as a global public good, citing the REDD+ initiative as a successful model for protecting natural resources through financial incentives.

• Global biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, with animal populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish decreasing by half since 1970. The current extinction rate is 1000 times higher than the natural rate.
• Healthy ecosystems are fundamental to human survival and economic activity, providing essential services such as clean water, pollination, and nutrient cycling. Furthermore, intact ecosystems provide greater resilience against a changing climate.
• Biodiversity loss disproportionately affects the poor, as more than one billion people living in poverty rely on healthy ecosystems for basic needs like food and cooking fuel. Environmental degradation and poor governance exacerbate social inequality and push vulnerable groups further into poverty.
• Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 requires a fundamental shift in economic systems, including the reallocation of trillions of dollars, the adoption of sustainable global value chains, and the implementation of effective governance to stop illegal wildlife and timber trade.
• The REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiative serves as a model for treating nature as a global public good by providing payments to prevent deforestation, which supports local development and carbon sequestration.

APA

Jensen, N. (2015). How protecting the biodiversity of our planet protects us all. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/how-protecting-the-biodiversity-of-our-planet-protects-us-all/

Chicago

Jensen, Nina. How protecting the biodiversity of our planet protects us all. World Economic Forum, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/how-protecting-the-biodiversity-of-our-planet-protects-us-all/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Jensen |first1=Nina |title=How protecting the biodiversity of our planet protects us all |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=24 September 2015 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/how-protecting-the-biodiversity-of-our-planet-protects-us-all/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{jensen2015how, author = {Jensen, Nina}, title = {{How protecting the biodiversity of our planet protects us all}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/sustainable-development/how-protecting-the-biodiversity-of-our-planet-protects-us-all/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }