World’s wildlife declined by 73% in just 50 years, warns WWF

12 October 2024

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Geneva: There has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations* in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to WWF’s Living Planet Report (LPR) 2024.

The report highlights that the next five years will be crucial for the future of life on Earth as we already have solutions to transform conservation, food, energy and finance systems to tackle the dual climate and nature crises.

The WWF’s Living Planet Report reveals the Earth is approaching irreversible global tipping points driven by nature loss and climate change, such as the dieback of the Amazon rainforest and the mass die-off of coral reefs. These tipping points would create shockwaves far beyond the immediate area impacting food security and livelihoods.

The warning comes as fire outbreaks in the Amazon reached their highest level in 14 years in August. At the same time, the European Commission just announced a one-year delay for implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation, the first in the world to tackle global deforestation.

“The findings of this report are alarming, and EU consumption continues to be a major driver of global biodiversity loss, particularly in critical ecosystems like the Amazon, which is nearing an irreversible tipping point. Despite this, the European Commission has recently proposed delaying the implementation of the EU deforestation law—a law that could help alleviate this destructive pressure. How much more forest must we lose before policymakers grasp the urgency of immediate action?” asked Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Manager, Forests, of the WWF European Policy Office.

The report makes clear that a huge collective effort will be required over the next five years. While we have global agreements to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030, the EU has an especially powerful tool at its disposal – the European Green Deal, which brought about critical laws that can transform conservation, food, energy and finance systems to deliver for our people and planet. It is imperative for the EU to respond to the warnings of the Living Planet Report and to implement and enforce all Green Deal initiatives.

“When the previous Living Planet Report was published in 2022, we advocated for the game-changing EU Nature Restoration Law. Two years later we finally have our first-ever EU law to restore degraded terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Today’s alarming numbers make it evident that the EU must now fully commit to implementing this law and key legislation like the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives. For our planet to avoid the irreversible tipping points, nature restoration and conservation in the EU must remain a priority and cannot be sidelined,” said Sabien Leemans, Senior Biodiversity Policy Officer at the WWF European Policy Office.

In addition, the report’s findings show that food production is the primary driver of habitat loss and is depleting our water resources, accounting for 70% of water use. “Here is yet another science-based report telling us the same story about our food system – a story we’ve ignored for far too long. In Europe, we have treated nature as an infinite resource, and we are now seeing the consequences through the increasing impacts of floods and droughts on our produce. The new Commission must fundamentally reform the foundations of the Common Agricultural Policy and incentivise farmers to transition to sustainable farming with dedicated public funding. This is our only path to a thriving future,” said Giulia Riedo, Sustainable Farming Officer at the WWF European Policy Office.

Furthermore, the report shows how climate change is pushing nature to the brink, with tipping points looming for places like the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs. “The new Living Planet Report sends a stark warning: the clock is ticking and our biodiversity is hanging in the balance. Luckily, saving nature is an important ally in the relentless fight against climate change and for this the European Green Deal is crucial. The solutions are clear: restoring ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is one of the most powerful solutions we have to reduce emissions apart from breaking free from fossil fuels,” said Alex Mason, Head of Climate & Energy at the WWF European Policy Office.

A vital part of the solution is finance. The report emphasises the need to redirect finance away from harmful and towards sustainable activities. “Our current economic systems fail to prioritise the wellbeing of people and environment, but the shift is possible and now more needed than ever before. The good news is that money is available, but it must be urgently reallocated to accelerate the green and just transition of companies, and stop harming our planet Earth. Right now, the consequences of inaction are putting our own society at risk of collapse”, said Sebastien Godinot, Senior Economist at the WWF European Policy Office.