Extreme climate events impact habitats: 36% Land Species at Risk by 2085 – UPSC Study

Context: Extreme climate events impact habitats

A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution finds extreme climate events could affect over one-third of land animal habitats by 2085.

Key Points

• Magnitude of risk
  
  • 36% habitats exposed to multiple extreme events by 2085
  • Based on ~34,000 vertebrate species across 794 ecoregions
• Nature of threat
  
  • Shift from gradual warming to frequent, intense extreme events
  • Heatwaves most widespread driver of impact
• Projected exposure
  
  • By 2050: ~74% habitats exposed to heatwaves
  • Other risks:
    • Wildfires: ~16%
    • Droughts: ~8%
    • Floods: ~3%
• Geographical concentration
  
  • High-risk zones: Amazon, Tropical Africa, Southeast Asia
  • Asia to witness a sharp increase in extreme events
• Compounding effect
  
  • Sequential or simultaneous events amplify ecosystem damage
  • Greater risk than isolated events
• Empirical evidence
  
  • Australia heatwave (2019–20): >72,000 flying foxes died
  • Pantanal wildfires: ~17 million vertebrates lost
• Key concern
  
  • Species cannot adapt at the pace of climate change
  • Conservation planning underestimates extreme-event risks
• Way forward
  
  • Rapid emission cuts and net-zero transition can significantly limit exposure
  • Need for climate-resilient conservation strategies