It seeks to offer policymakers and society with science-based environmental information to assist them carry out multilateral environmental agreements, attain globally recognised environmental goals, and execute the environmental part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Source: EURACTIV.com
The research indicates that the general state of the global environment continues to deteriorate despite efforts made by various nations and regions. The ecosystems of the planet have been damaged by unsustainable human activity, putting society’s ecological roots in jeopardy. Six to seven million early deaths and $5 trillion in welfare losses occur each year as a result of air pollution, which is the primary environmental cause of the global burden of illness.
The number of species is dwindling, and their extinction rates are rising. Currently, 34% of freshwater invertebrates, 25% of marine invertebrates, and 42% of terrestrial invertebrates are in danger of being extinct. The impoverished and underprivileged groups are disproportionately affected by biodiversity loss. The annual value of illegal trafficking in animals, fisheries, and forest products ranges from $90 to $270 billion.
The global and national economy both rely heavily on the waters. Currently, $252 billion is generated yearly through fishing and aquaculture. Between 58 and 120 million people depend on small-scale fishing for their livelihood. Over 20% of the protein consumed by 3.1 billion people comes from fish, which also contains other vital elements.
All ocean depths now include marine debris, including plastic and microplastics. A variety of coastal activities are negatively impacted economically by it. According to current estimates, coastal regions get about 8 million tonnes of plastic marine litter yearly as a result of improper handling of household garbage.
With land degradation hotspots occupying roughly 29% of the world’s surface and housing about 3.2 billion people, land degradation and desertification have gotten worse. Economically speaking, it makes sense to invest in preventing land degradation and repairing damaged land since benefits often outweigh costs. According to a UNEP research, restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land will produce ecosystem services worth $9 trillion and remove an additional 13u201326 GHGs from the atmosphere between 2021 and 2030.
Since 1975, the number of urban clusters has increased by a factor of around 2.5. These urban clusters have an impact on the hydrological cycle and soil functions, which results in urban heat islands. Due to chemical and organic contamination, water quality has severely declined in the majority of areas since 1990. There are still 2.3 billion individuals who cannot access clean sanitation. An estimated 1.4 million individuals every year pass away from disorders including diarrhoea and intestinal parasites that may be prevented. By 2050, antimicrobial-resistant infections that affect humans may account for a significant portion of infectious disease-related deaths globally.
Source: World Health Summit
During the years 2014 to 2040, there will likely be a large increase in the world’s energy consumption, up to 63%. Energy-related GHGs will exceed the limitations established by the Paris Climate Accord in the absence of aggressive and effective actions, notwithstanding the rapid deployment of renewable energy sources, cost reductions, and efficiency gains.
Reducing GHGs and air pollutants can have additional health advantages that can offset the cost of mitigation. For instance, it is anticipated that limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius will save the world’s health $54 trillion compared to the $22 trillion in associated expenditures. The study demonstrates that the greatest basis for economic success, human health, and wellbeing is a healthy environment. Actions for a Healthy Planet is the theme of GEO-7, which is currently being prepared. It aims to identify sustainable solutions in the food, energy, environment, economic, and financial sectors.
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