According to a new study, the damaging effects of climate change may lead to the mass extinction of approximately 16% of our planet’s species.
The researchers who conducted the new study detailed their findings in the journal Science.
The researchers wrote in their study that because of the climate change, the temperature of our planet will increase by at least 4.3 degrees Celsius in the next 100 years.
According to them, the temperature will be higher than what it was during the pre-industrial era.
Researchers predict that because of this rise in temperature, about 1 in 6 species will disappear completely off the face of the Earth.
Marc Urban, professor of ecology at the University of Connecticut and one of the researchers who conducted the new study, explained that due to the effects of climate change, the risk of future mass extinction is not only increasing but is also accelerating as the global temperatures are rising.
The experts announced that even though not all species are threatened with extinction due to climate change and global warming, there are many species that will face dangerous changes in number, distribution and ecological role.
Professor Urban said that the extinction of some of the species will lead to other dangerous environmental issues that will affect crop growth and ecosystems. This will lead to the spreading of various diseases.
According to the new study, the risk of mass extinction is different, depending on the region. The researchers said that for example, there is a risk of 6% in Europe, while North America is facing a risk of species disappearance of about 5%.
Other parts of the world are facing a higher risk, write the specialists. For example, South America is at a 23% risk to lose its species, while Australia and New Zealand could experience a risk of 14%.
The experts predict that colder regions, such as Europe and North America are at a lower risk compared to warmer regions. The species that live in colder places have a higher risk of survival, according to the study.
Also, the study suggests that if the temperatures continue to rise at a slower rate, the species may have a better chance of adapting, thus surviving climate change.
At the moment, there is a 2.8% risk of global extinction but the number is expected to rise in the future if global leaders will not take extreme measures to combat the effects of climate change.
Image Source: telegraph.co.uk
