Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Earth’s ecosystems are vital for sustaining human life, they contribute to over half of global GDP and encompass diverse cultural, spiritual, and economic values. However, the world is facing a triple crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. The pressure on biodiversity we are applying through our consumption production habits is by far too high. We are exceeding the planetary boundaries and we are destroying our livelihoods. The bees, butterflies and hoverflies face extinction jeopardizing the pollination of 80% of crop and wild plant species vital for food production. Our global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 (86%) species at risk of extinction. The global rate of species extinction today is higher than the average rate over the past 10 million years. Between 2019 and 2023, at least 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land were degraded every year, impacting the lives of 1.3 billion people. Modern agricultural practices are blamed as one of the biggest destroyers of our natural ecosystems critical for human life on earth. Agricultural expansion is the direct driver of almost 90 percent of deforestation.
Climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionally affect vulnerable rural communities and Indigenous Peoples who rely on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood and access to food. Climate change is impacting our water systems which in turn impact biodiversity. When water becomes scarce, it leads to the loss of habitats, which in turn leads to species extinction. This is because many species are highly dependent on specific habitats, and when these habitats disappear, the species that rely on them also disappear.
Ecosystems are complex networks of interactions between different species and their environment. Water plays a crucial role in these interactions, and when it becomes scarce; it can disrupt these interactions and lead to the collapse of the ecosystem. For example, in aquatic ecosystems, water scarcity can lead to a decrease in the availability of food and shelter for aquatic species. Reducing the consumption of animal products would reduce the land and water use required for growing feed for livestock, thereby potentially alleviating water stress and sparing land for natural habitats. However, these impact reductions depend on how much land and/or water use is required for producing alternative diets, which can lead to a decrease in their population sizes and a disruption of the food chain.
Need to have cross sectoral approach
There is a fundamental business risk from an ecosystem failure. This is a concept that needs to be acknowledged, along with the realisation that there is also a reputational risk of unsustainable supply chains. Some commodities, such as cocoa and coffee, are integral to an economy, but also depend on its growth from the delicate ecosystem. Growth of such commodities requires a stable ecosystem tailored to its needs. Therefore, businesses need to factor these considerations into their risk analysis and allocate capital investment accordingly. Additionally, businesses have also been said to have a fundamentally crucial role in sustainability transformation. Therefore, they also need to set some standards and rules that address biodiversity loss reduction.
Governments need to draft, pass, and enforce legislation to protect biodiversity. All governments should strive to create an environment that welcomes intergovernmental bodies and international policymakers to collaborate in advocacy in regards to issues of biodiversity. Unsustainable food production is also a cause of biodiversity loss. Therefore, governments can ensure that company policies are put in place to encourage more sustainable methods by ensuring sustainable fishing methods. They can also protect national parks and other areas with flora and fauna through laws, and they can provide incentives and subsidies to farmers to encourage production methods towards sustainable land stewardship. Obtaining the resources to create the products we consume is severely damaging to biodiversity. Examples include, meat consumption, baked goods containing palm oil, mass produced-cheap clothing, and the use of plastic straws. One of the simplest solutions to biodiversity loss is by substituting products with sustainable and environmentally-friendly replacements.
Lab-grown meat is an excellent example. The way in which we currently rely upon to produce meat is by rearing animals until they grow large enough to kill and consume. This practice requires huge amounts of land, particularly for beef production. Land use does not exclusively limit to raising cattle but is often dedicated to producing food for cows and other livestock. The simplest solution to this would be to encourage people to eat less meat. Using microalgae as a palm oil alternative is another example of an excellent solution to replacing a harmful product that is heavily consumed globally.
Way forward
If biodiversity within and across terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems is protected and promoted as the foundation for healthy diets through agroecological, people-centred approaches, then a wider range of sustainable production systems (agriculture, forestry and fishery) will be incentivized; as a result a variety of safe and nutritious foods will be made more accessible and affordable throughout the year. Global dietary patterns need to move towards more plant-heavy diets, mainly due to the disproportionate impact of animal agriculture on biodiversity, land use and the environment. Such a shift, coupled with the reduction of global food waste, would reduce demand and the pressure on the environment and land, benefit the health of populations around the world, and help reduce the risk of pandemics. The greatest gains for biodiversity will occur when we preserve or restore whole ecosystems. Therefore, we need to avoid converting land for agriculture. Human dietary shifts are essential in order to preserve existing native ecosystems and restore those that have been removed or degraded. We need to farm in a more nature-friendly, biodiversity-supporting way, limiting the use of inputs and replacing monoculture with polyculture farming practices. Empowering consumers to make sustainable choices that align with their values and contribute to a more sustainable future shall enable us to collectively reduce the global footprint of consumption, ensuring that all people can live well in harmony with our planet.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
