Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: A Global Challenge
By Angela Colbert, Ph.D., NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Climate change plays an increasing role in the global decline of biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth. Scientists use NASA data to track ecosystem changes and to develop tools for conserving life on land, in our ocean, and in freshwater ecosystems.
The Impact of Human Actions on Biodiversity
- According to a 2019 study from Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, North America has lost about 3 billion wild birds since 1970, primarily due to human actions.
- The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services estimates that approximately one million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction.
- Habitat loss from deforestation, land use changes, and climate change are affecting the natural balance of life on Earth.
- Rising global temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events are rapidly changing global ecosystems.
NASA’s Role in Monitoring Biodiversity Changes
NASA is working with partners worldwide to monitor biodiversity changes in near real-time by linking satellite data to on-the-ground measurements.
Remote Sensing and Biodiversity Data
NASA satellites play a vital role in gathering biodiversity data through remote sensing. Satellite imagery combined with airborne and in-situ data helps scientists track changes in plant and animal distributions over time.
New Technologies for Biodiversity Monitoring
New remote-sensing technologies, such as hyperspectral data collection, allow scientists to identify different types of vegetation and organisms based on how they interact with light.
The Earth System Observatory Program
NASA’s upcoming Earth System Observatory program will provide high-resolution open data to scientists for developing solutions that address both climate change and biodiversity losses. For example, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission aims to uncover how climate change is impacting phytoplankton, which is crucial for understanding ocean biodiversity.
Conclusion
Although scientists do not have all the solutions yet, NASA’s current and upcoming missions provide critical insights into the effort to slow biodiversity loss. Through continued research and new technology, scientists worldwide are working to find solutions to preserve biodiversity for future generations.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats
- Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index
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SDG 14: Life Below Water
- Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts
- Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches
Analysis
The article addresses the issues of biodiversity decline and its connection to climate change. The following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified based on the article’s content:
1. SDG 13: Climate Action
The article highlights the role of climate change in the global decline of biodiversity. It mentions rising global temperatures, an acidic ocean, and extreme weather events as factors that are rapidly changing global ecosystems. This aligns with SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the loss of biodiversity on land, including the decline in bird populations and the threat of extinction to one million plant and animal species. This relates to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, and halting biodiversity loss.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water
The article mentions the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and the importance of understanding ocean biodiversity. This aligns with SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
The specific targets and indicators identified based on the article’s content are as follows:
Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
The article emphasizes the need to integrate climate change measures into policies and planning to address the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
The article does not explicitly mention this indicator, but it implies the importance of integrating mitigation and adaptation measures into national policies and planning to address climate change and its impact on biodiversity.
Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats
The article highlights human actions such as deforestation and land use changes as factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Taking urgent action to reduce habitat degradation is necessary to address this issue.
Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index
The article does not mention this indicator, but it implies the need to monitor and assess the status of threatened species and their habitats, which is measured by the Red List Index.
Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts
The article emphasizes the importance of sustainably managing and protecting marine ecosystems to address the impact of climate change on ocean biodiversity.
Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches
The article does not mention this indicator, but it implies the need to use ecosystem-based approaches in managing national exclusive economic zones to protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning measures into national policies, strategies, and planning |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats | Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index |
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts | Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: science.nasa.gov
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