Biodiversity as we know it today is fundamental to human life on Earth, and the evidence is unequivocal – it is being destroyed by us at a rate unprecedented in history. The 2020 global Living Planet Index shows an average 68 percent fall in monitored populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish between 1970 and 2016. Moreover, data from UNEP shows that, per person, the global stock of natural capital has declined by nearly 40 percent since the early 1990s. The most important direct driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial systems in the last several decades has been land-use change, primarily the conversion of pristine native habitats into agricultural systems; while much of the oceans have been overfished. In addition, up to one-fifth of wild species are at risk of extinction this century due to climate change alone.
Recently, a series of catastrophic events – wildfires, locust plagues, and the COVID-19 pandemic – have shaken the world’s environmental conscience, showing that biodiversity conservation should be a non-negotiable and strategic investment to preserve our health, wealth, and security. The current state of our planet confirms that the world and its leaders should embrace a new global deal for people and nature that sets us on a path where both can thrive.
This report details a roadmap with scenarios for exploring how to bend the curve of biodiversity loss, asking ‘What if humanity takes different pathways?’. The roadmap illustrates how to restore biodiversity and feed a growing human population. It explores various scenarios that include a range of interventions related to conservation, sustainable production, and sustainable consumption.