Biodiversity loss: ecosystems and economies increasingly at risk
While climate change dominates environmental debates, another equally serious problem, biodiversity loss, receives less attention. Yet this process can undermine the foundations of human well-being and economic systems, the G7 article points out.
Invisible threat, huge consequences
Biodiversity loss often remains hidden until it reaches a critical tipping point. The loss of ecosystem services – such as maintaining air and water quality, waste decomposition or pollination – can cause enormous social and economic damage.
According to the latest World Bank estimate, the loss of ecosystem services could result in a global GDP loss of $2.7 trillion by 2030. This impact will be particularly severe in low-income countries, where economic losses could exceed 10 percent of GDP.
What causes biodiversity loss?
The main causes of biodiversity loss include:
- land and sea land use change,
- overexploitation of resources,
- climate change,
- pollution,
- the spread of invasive species.
Agriculture and industry play a significant role in this process. For example, the expansion of agricultural land is responsible for more than 90 percent of global deforestation, while palm oil cultivation alone accounted for 7 percent of deforestation between 2000 and 2018.
Economic consequences
Biodiversity loss has direct and indirect economic impacts. Direct impacts include a decline in agricultural productivity, for example due to the loss of pollinators. Disruptions through supply chains generate additional economic losses.
Overreliance on natural resources poses an increasing financial risk for companies. Industry revenues may decline, while raw material prices may increase and supply chains may become unstable.
Related news
Pistachio boom in the world – it will become a favorite snack in many places
The demand for pistachios is constantly growing worldwide, and global…
Read more >The world’s spices are in danger: climate change is not sparing incense and vanilla either
Global warming is having an increasingly serious impact on the…
Read more >A new variety of tomato has been added to Lidl’s shelves – Herencsényi seedlings for biodiversity
The diversity of landscape varieties plays a key role in…
Read more >Related news
New markdown limit in drugstores to come from May 19 – thousands of products could be affected
According to the announcement of the Minister of Chancellery Gergely…
Read more >Hungarian shoppers love prize games, according to a recent survey
Almost all Hungarian shoppers are willing to spend more if…
Read more >Sustainability at its best: the Respray refill machine has arrived at Rossmann for nationwide expansion
The world’s first spray product refilling machine, Respray, has grown…
Read more >