Achieving synergies between climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation

What is it about?

Human activities have led to accelerated and drastic changes in the global climate. As biodiversity relies to a great extent on the local and global climate, it is important to address the adverse effects of climate change and subsequent degradation of biodiversity in a holistic manner. The current article highlights common responsibilities linked to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation through global conventions that can benefit both interventions. Several treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992); the Kyoto Protocol (1997); the Paris Agreement (2015); as well as global conventions, such as the Desertification and Ramsar Conventions, have been initiated for this purpose.

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Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Rapid changes in the global climate have led to significant changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, temperatures, and rainfall patterns. As living organisms depend on specific natural conditions for survival, drastic climate changes threaten their ability to survive and thrive. Climate change, coupled with an expanding human population, has led to severe habitat fragmentation, accelerated evolution, and extinction of several species over time. These effects are more pronounced in the oceans and Arctic regions. Identifying such vulnerable biodiversity hotspots can help in developing legal frameworks for the conservation and restoration of degraded habitats. Furthermore, a collaborative approach wherein developed countries can transfer technologies and resources to developing countries, which in turn co-operate towards adaptation, can help further the cause effectively. KEY TAKEAWAY Integrated approaches that consider both commonalities and distinctions across climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation protocols can help us achieve a more synergistic effect with a higher impact than independent interventions.