UN: Huge changes needed to keep nature, Earth OK
Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. So the world must make dramatic changes to society, economics and daily life, a new United Nations report says.
Unlike past U.N. reports that focused on one issue and avoided telling leaders actions to take, Thursday’s report combines three intertwined environment crises and tells the world what’s got to change. It calls for changing what governments tax, how nations value economic output, how power is generated, the way people get around, fish and farm, as well as what they eat.
“Without nature’s help, we will not thrive or even survive,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “For too long, we have been waging a senseless and suicidal war on nature. The result is three interlinked environmental crises.”
Thus the 168-page report title is blunt: “Making Peace With Nature.”
“Our children and their children will inherit a world of extreme weather events, sea level rise, a drastic loss of plants and animals, food and water insecurity and increasing likelihood of future pandemics,” said report lead author Sir Robert Watson, who has chaired past UN science reports on climate change and biodiversity loss.
“The emergency is in fact more profound than we thought only a few years ago,” said Watson, who has been a top level scientist in the U.S. and British governments.
This year “is a make-it or break-it year indeed because the risk of things becoming irreversible is gaining ground every year,” Guterres said. “We are close to the point of no return.”
The report highlighted what report co-author Rachel Warren of the University of East Anglia called “a litany of frightening statistics that hasn’t really been brought together,” including:
Earth is on the way to an additional 3.5 degrees warming from now, far more than the international agreed upon goals in the Paris accord.
About 9 million people a year die from pollution.
About 1 million of Earth’s 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction.
Up to 400 million tons of heavy metals, toxic sludge and other industrial waste are dumped into the world’s waters every year.
More than 3 billion people are affected by land degradation, and only 15% of Earth’s wetlands remain intact.
About 60% of fish stocks are fished at the maximum levels.
“In the end it will hit us,” said biologist Thomas Lovejoy, who was a scientific adviser to the report. “It’s not what’s happening to elephants. It’s not what’s happening to climate or sea level rise. It’s all going to impact us.”
Every year, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Of those, about 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
Each week, The Arizona Republic highlights a handful of the many pets up for adoption at Valley shelters. To check the status of a specific animal, please contact the shelter directly.
Bella
Meaning beautiful in more languages than one, appropriately-named Bella is quite the beauty to behold. The gorgeous 3-year-old German shepherd still has the most adorable ears and head tilt around, even though she has already been through so much in her few years.
In January of this year, Bella was brought to a local Emergency Animal Clinic by a Good Samaritan after she was witnessed being hit by a car. From there, Arizona Humane Society Emergency Animal Medical Technicians swiftly picked her up and transferred her to AHS’ Second Chance Animal
Trauma Hospital where it was determined she was suffering from an extremely bad fracture. Because of this, the sweet pup was in need of an amputation and then spent a few weeks recovering in a Foster Hero home.
Bella can be quite shy at first but quickly warms up and will even give little head nudges on your hand when she wants more pets. Although not a lot is known about her past, all those who have come into contact with her have doted about what a soft and lovely personality this sweet girl has and that she would make a great companion. Due to her mysterious history, it is recommended she meet the whole family to ensure a perfect fit.
How to adopt: The Arizona Humane Society’s adoption locations remain closed as the shelter continues to heal and rehabilitate pets coming in but its Virtual Matchmaking Adoptions by appointment is available to place pets with their forever families. Interested adopters can view available pets, like Bella, and schedule an appointment online at azhumane.org/adopt.