The Triple Planetary Crisis
The triple planetary crisis describes three crises that we currently face: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The United Nations (UN) have responded with three agencies: UN Climate Change, UN Environment Programme, and UN Biodiversity to tackle this triumvirate of crises. But why is the triple planetary crisis a problem?
1. Climate Change
Climate change is a term used to describe long-term changes in weather patterns and temperatures. It is also “the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century.” So far, there have been five major mass extinction events on Earth that we know of, and they have all been linked to climate change. Mass extinction events can be defined by the loss of approximately 75% of species in a relatively short period of time. Currently, the rate of species extinction is between 1,000 to 10,000 times the rate expected if humans did not exist, also known as the background extinction rate. Thus, there is significant concern that we are currently amidst the sixth major mass extinction event: the Anthropocene.
While the term is not strictly defined, the Anthropocene often refers to human activity since the Industrial Revolution. We have become the most influential species on Earth in respect to how we affect global warming, ecosystems, and our surrounding environments.
According to the World Health Organization, climate change will soon cause an extra 250,000 deaths per year. It is also estimated that by 2050 there will be one billion climate migrants—people displaced from their homes due to the effects of climate change—because between 3.3 and 3.6 billion people live in areas that are highly vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Climate change disrupts food supply and increases the risk of food insecurity, with almost 10% of the global population without access to proper nutrition. Climate change also impacts mental health: between 25-50% of those exposed to extreme weather events experience negative mental health outcomes.
The human impact is clear. Further, climate change as part of the triple planetary crisis has a significant impact on our surroundings as well.
2. Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity can be defined as “the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.” The problem is evident: there are approximately one million animal and plant species threatened with extinction, and there is an average decline of 68% in mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations compared to 1970. Furthermore, as we continue to displace ecosystems for our benefit, we come into closer contact with wildlife, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases including Ebola, the West Nile Virus, and Monkeypox.
Climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked. Through long-term changes in temperature and rain, increasingly common natural disasters, and negative anthropogenic contributions, climate change adversely impacts biodiversity. Additionally, loss of biodiversity impairs the Earth’s capacity to maintain normal levels of greenhouse gases, thereby worsening climate change.
3. Pollution
Pollution further complicates the interplay between planetary crises. Air pollution increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and water pollution increases the risk of transmissible diseases such as cholera and typhoid. It is estimated that pollution caused approximately nine million premature deaths in 2019.
Further, extensive use of plastics has resulted in microplastics being found in our blood, and we are yet to determine whether they have a significant impact on our health.
Air pollution also increases greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, causing changes in the Earth’s temperature. Pollutants can also adversely affect ecosystems and the species within them, thereby negatively impacting biodiversity.
The Future of the Triple Planetary Crisis
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are undoubtedly crises in their own right. However, it is essential that we consider them together when trying to tackle the triple planetary crisis. The UN have been working with member states to address these crises. However, for global warming to be limited to 1.5°C greater than pre-industrial levels, we must reduce carbon emissions by 45% before 2030 and attain net-zero by 2050.
Therefore, we must create, and more importantly uphold, coordinated national governmental legislation and inter-governmental cooperation on an international scale if we are to solve these worldwide issues.
