Visualizing the Top Environmental Challenges Confronting Our Natural World

Blazing wildfires, biblical floods, and catastrophic storms are on the rise, indicating a potentially ominous future. According to scientists, our planet is on the brink of various climate "tipping points" that could trigger irreversible transformations to our beloved home.

The impacts of climate change are already evident, spanning from the Antarctic ice sheet to the Amazon rainforest. However, climate change is not the singular threat to our natural world. Through a series of graphics, we examine some of the significant environmental challenges confronting our planet.

Dwindling biodiversity

The loss of biodiversity is being driven by various human activities such as logging, pollution, overfishing, and urban development. According to the WWF's Living Planet Report 2022, global wildlife populations saw an average decline of 69% between 1970 and 2018.

Land-use change, such as deforestation for agriculture or urban expansion, is identified as the primary ongoing hazard to nature. However, the report from the United Nations in 2019 emphasized that climate change is expected to overshadow all other factors in leading to the loss of biodiversity in the near future. Astonishingly, the report revealed that one million species among the Earth's estimated eight million are currently facing the risk of extinction. Furthermore, it highlighted that the rate of global species extinction is already substantially and alarmingly higher compared to the average rate observed over the past 10 million years.

Swipe to see moreWildlife populations and decline of biodeversity

Source: WWF

Our fading forests

Trees soak up planet-heating carbon dioxide and forests can lock away carbon for centuries, but theyre disappearing at an alarming rate due to a combination of human activities.

The peat swamp forests of Southeast Asia house diverse wildlife and store significant amounts of carbon below the ground. However, many of these forests have been drained and degraded to accommodate agricultural land. When peatland is drained, it becomes susceptible to drying out and can easily ignite, releasing up to 10 times more carbon than forest fires.

In other regions, scientists have observed a concerning trend in certain tropical forests, such as the southeastern portion of the Amazon rainforest. These forests are transitioning from being carbon sinks to becoming carbon sources, resulting in a greater release of carbon into the atmosphere.

Swipe to see moreForest loss

Note: These figures do not include regrowth or regeneration of forest. Source: World Resources Institute - Global Forest Watch

Problem plastic

Plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, and they can be found ubiquitously, from city streets to Antarctic sea ice, and even in drinking water. Plastic pollution knows no bounds, affecting even the tallest peak on the planet and the deepest ocean trench in the world.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive expanse of trash spanning 620,000 square miles, hovers between California and Hawaii, endangering marine life through entanglement and toxic pollution.

Wildlife, ranging from seals to seabirds, faces a substantial risk from plastics, as these materials have been discovered in the digestive tracts of numerous aquatic organisms, including all species of marine turtles. Additionally, microplastics, which are minuscule fragments resulting from plastic breakdown, have been detected in our drinking water systems and even suspended in the atmosphere.

Swipe to see morePlastics

Sources: UN, EOCD, UN Environment Programme

Pollinators on the brink

Bumblebees, wasps, moths, and butterflies, along with birds and small mammals such as bats, are among the pollinators. However, they are encountering various challenges due to pesticides, crop monocultures, and habitat destruction.

According to a 2023 study conducted by the University of Sheffield, nocturnal moths contribute to approximately one-third of pollinator visits to urban areas, including crops, flowers, and trees. However, their global population has witnessed a significant decline of 33% over the past five decades.

The dwindling numbers of pollinators could potentially have grave consequences for food production. Researchers have estimated that the global loss of pollinators is leading to a reduced supply of nutritious food, resulting in roughly 430,000 premature deaths annually.

Swipe to see morePollinators

Sources: UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN

Bird populations under threat

Global bird populations face pressure from habitat destruction due to agriculture, development and logging, while seabirds are being impacted by overfishing.

According to research conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology, North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds in the last 50 years, while the UK has experienced a decline of 73 million birds since 1970.

Hawaii has witnessed the extinction of 33 bird species since 1825, primarily as a result of habitat loss and the introduction of mammals and disease. On the other hand, in India, there are currently 178 wild bird species that are highly prioritized for conservation efforts.

Swipe to see moreBird populations

Source: Birdlife

Discover the multitude of groups and individuals dedicated to safeguarding our planet, despite the magnitude of the obstacles. Join us in commemorating the efforts of various initiatives that strive to preserve the environment and interconnected ecosystems worldwide for Call to Earth Day 2023. Learn how you can actively participate.

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