Leah Gerber

Global biodiversity loss is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Approximately 1 million species are threatened with extinction and many species have gone extinct in the past decade.

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report offers an integrated overview of where the world stands in relation to key international goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The IPBES report also represents the first assessment of indigenous and local knowledge on a global scale. In this talk, I will summarize estimates for the global status of biodiversity and ecosystem change, the implications for people, policy options and likely future pathways over the next three decades if current trends continue.

As all SDGs depend on biodiversity, I will also discuss trade-offs and synergies in progress toward achieving the goals. Finally, I will discuss research needs for ensuring a sustainable pathway toward achieving SDG, Aichi and climate goals.

This talk is part of the New Mexico State University’s Climate Change Education Seminar Series.