WWF's 2020 Living Planet Report shows that our relationship with nature is broken - the population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have seen an alarming average drop of 68% since 1970! That means that globally more than two thirds of these animal numbers have been lost.
The report identifies farming and deforestation as two of the major causes, whilst over-fishing is a big problem for life in the ocean and fresh waters.
Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International said "The report underlines how humanity's increasing destruction of nature is having catastrophic impacts, not only on wildlife populations, but also on human health and all aspects of our lives."
However, we also know what needs to be done if we're going to turn it around. The report calls on world leaders to come together to build a more sustainable, resilient and healthy post COVID-19 world for people and nature. The report has been launched today, 10th September 2020, less than a week before the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, when leaders are due to set the direction for 'The Future We Want' with a focus on protecting our planet. A special Summit on Biodiversity, due to take place on 30th September 2020, will bring together world leaders, businesses and civil society to highlight the urgent need for action on nature at the highest level. It marks a critical opportunity for leaders to demonstrate ambition and accelerate biodiversity action for sustainable development.
The film below recommends that we all focus on food and land use, nature based solutions and ensuring that governments implement and follow up Nature Laws. At a time when we're suffering from a global pandemic, an economic recovery without protecting the planet is no recovery at all:-