Why climate change and biodiversity loss must be tackled together

We all have a role to play in protecting our planet, but individual actions are not enough. We need strong international agreements and effective national policies that prioritize a sustainable future for people, animals, and the planet. After all, our survival as a species depends on how well we can coexist with nature. 

How are climate change and biodiversity loss connected? 

These two issues interact with each other to create feedback loops—as climate change disrupts the balance of ecosystems, species die out, which in turn affects how well nature can help regulate the climate. 

Here are some ways in which climate change and biodiversity loss interact—and the reasons why we must tackle them together. 

Regulating atmospheric temperatures  

2024 was the hottest year since record-keeping began in 1880. Global temperatures were 1.28 °C (2.3 °F) above NASA's 20th century baseline (1951-1980). Scientists have concluded that this warming trend is driven by heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases.  

Extreme heat affects biodiversity in several ways. Species may move to new areas to find more moderate temperatures, leading to increased competition and parasitism with the species already living there.  

Changing temperatures can also affect the timing of species’ life cycles. For example, one study showed a 90% decline in numbers of pied flycatchers, a migratory bird, in parts of the Netherlands over the last 20 years. Warming temperatures mean food is now abundant earlier than nestlings are born. 

When an ecosystem gets too hot, species start to die off, like the endangered Amazon and Tucuxi river dolphins during a heatwave in October 2023, and the seagrass meadows of Australia’s Shark Bay—a habitat so precious that it’s a World Heritage Site. 

Protecting and restoring biodiversity can help regulate temperatures. Forests and wetlands release water vapor through transpiration, cooling the surrounding environment. They also sequester carbon dioxide, but seagrasses and mangroves can sequester it at rates up to four times higher than forests can.  

Some of the real heroes of climate regulation are whales. One whale sequesters 33 tons of CO2 on average in its lifetime. They also boost phytoplankton populations just by pooing. This is hugely important, because phytoplankton produce almost 50 percent of all oxygen in our atmosphere while capturing 40 percent of all CO2 produced. Protecting whales is crucial for protecting us all. 

In the last few years alone, wildfires in Brazil, Australia, and California have caused unprecedented damage to ecosystems that both wildlife and people depend on.  

Healthy biodiversity plays a crucial role in building resilience to disasters like these. Wetlands and forests help mitigate floods. While wetlands absorb excess rainfall and slow the flow of water, tree roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion and landslides. When it comes to droughts, having diverse plant species with different root systems means that plants can access water at different depths.  

Along coastlines, mangrove forests reduce erosion and buffer coastlines from storm surges with their dense root systems, while coral reefs dissipate wave energy to protect coastlines from storms and floods. 

Wildlife biodiversity also plays a crucial role. Many animals disperse seeds, creating robust plant diversity that’s not only important for preventing disasters but also for recovering from them.  

Some species act as ecosystem engineers—organisms that maintain and fine-tune their habitats, helping these habitats mitigate or recover more quickly from a disaster. Sea otters are one example. They eat sea urchins, which would destroy kelp forests if their population wasn’t kept in check. Kelp forests can weaken wave energy, protecting coastlines during storms. 

What role do international agreements and national policies play? 

The problems we face are global, complex, and interconnected. That's countries have joined together in international agreements to set overarching goals and frameworks to address them. National policies then translate those goals into specific actions and regulations. 

Several agreements were created protect biodiversity and tackle climate change, including: 

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a treaty that commits countries to fight ‘dangerous human interference with the climate system’, particularly by limiting the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. 
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and fairly share the benefits arising from genetic resources.  
• The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is the CBD’s current action plan. It sets specific targets for 2030, including conserving 30% of Earth's land and sea areas.  
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) regulates international trade in threatened species.  
• The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) aims to conserve terrestrial, aquatic, and avian migratory species throughout their range. 
• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands focuses on conserving wetlands and using them wisely. 
• The High Seas Treaty (officially the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement) is a landmark treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. 

To help countries create appropriate policies and laws, international agreements provide guidance and opportunities for collaboration and help mobilise financial and technical resources. 

How IFAW supports international policy 

We work with policymakers and advocate for laws protecting wildlife around the world in a variety of ways. 

For example, in China we have worked closely with regulatory agencies and internet companies since 2008 to curb illegal wildlife trade enabled by the internet. 

In the US, we’re working to advance policies that reduce illegal wildlife trade and reduce consumer demand for wildlife products. 

In the EU, we ask leaders to commit financial resources to prioritize nature. As the world’s largest aid donor, the EU has both the responsibility and the means to lead on biodiversity protection. 

We are a Cooperating Partner of the Conservation on Migratory Species, which means we participate in discussions and provide our expertise and support to governments seeking to better manage threatened migratory species. 

We actively participate in CITES meetings, advocating for stronger protection for endangered species and working to combat illegal wildlife trade. We also provide practical resources for government officials. For example, we’ve organised CITES workshops for the government of Panama to restrict trade in sharks and for Colombian enforcement authorities to better identify illegally sourced shark fins. 

One of our guiding principles is that conservation policy should be based on sound science within an ethical framework that recognizes the intrinsic value of individual animals and species, and the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings.  

Climate change threatens every part of our planet. The magnitude of the threat requires joint action between the nations of the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity. Working together and implementing bold, practical solutions that address both problems is crucial for creating a sustainable future for people and animals.