One million of the planet's eight million species are threatened with extinction because of humans, a landmark UN study says
Story highlights One million of the planet's eight million species are threatened with extinction by humans, scientists warned Monday in what is described as the most comprehensive assessment of global nature loss ever.
Their landmark report paints a bleak picture of a planet ravaged by an ever-growing human population, whose insatiable consumption is destroying the natural world. The global rate of species extinction"is already tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been, on average, over the last 10 million years," according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services , a UN committee, whose report was written by 145 experts from 50 countries.
It's not too lateDespite the ominous picture"it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global," said Watson, adding that this would require an overhaul of economic systems and a shift in political and social mindsets. Diaz said that governments should implement drastic changes now to avoid a"dire future" in 10-20 years when their"food and climate security [is] in jeopardy.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cyclone Kenneth lashes southeast Africa, killing 9 UN saysAt least nine people have died since Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, the strongest storm to hit the region since records began, made landfall in Mozambique on Thursday.
Read more »
'He's no Abraham Lincoln': Libya U.N. envoy warns against backing eastern commanderThe United Nations envoy for Libya on Monday warned countries tempted to continu...
Read more »
U.N. chief raises issue of Xinjiang's Uighurs during China visitUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised the plight of Muslims i...
Read more »
Our antibiotics are no match for superbugs, and it's a 'global crisis,' UN report says'Alarming levels' of resistance to antimicrobial drugs -- including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiprotozoals -- have been seen in countries of all income levels and the result is that common diseases are becoming untreatable.
Read more »
UN boss raises Xinjiang Uyghurs during his trip to ChinaAntonio Guterres has reminded China that its treatment of Uyghurs is still under close watch, during a recent trip to Beijing. Human rights must be fully respected when fighting terrorism, he told Chinese authorities during the weekend's billion-dollar Belt and Road Forum, according to a UN spokesman.
Read more »
Modi gets election boost with U.N. sanction against India's 'enemy No. 1'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election bid received a big fillip on Wed...
Read more »
UN adds militant chief Masood Azhar to 'global terror' listUN blacklists leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad, based and proscribed in Pakistan, on its list of global terrorists as China lifts objections. India hails decision, but Pakistan says listing approved after Kashmir dispute was de-linked from the group.
Read more »
U.N. panel blacklists founder of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed: diplomatsA U.N. Security Council committee blacklisted the head of Pakistan-based militan...
Read more »
U.N. genocide expert says Europe's far right recalls rise of NazisThe U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide said on Wednesday a new class of nationalist, far-right leaders in Europe was redolent of the 1930s when the Nazis rose to power. Adama Dieng urged Europe's centre-left to do more to oppose a resurgence of xenophobia, alluding to a spreading
Read more »