Jacques Gabriel Richardson (1924-2022) Erdelen, Walter R.
International journal of environmental studies,
07/04/2022, Letnik:
79, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Loss of biological diversity continues at alarming rates, despite valiant UN efforts aided by the international community. The 2010 Target for biodiversity has been missed. The Aichi Targets, adopted ...in 2010, may also not be met by their timeline of 2020. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its partners are now preparing a post‐2020 global framework for biodiversity, to be adopted in October 2020, at its 15th Conference of the Parties. The initiative presented here is meant to provoke further thought on how to accelerate efforts toward stopping biodiversity loss. Ten proposals are briefly introduced and discussed, with emphasis on three priority fast track initiatives: (1) the creation of as extensive as possible a worldwide protected area network; (2) a complete halt to deforestation and the restoration of forest ecosystems; and (3) a massive reduction in or (ideally) a halt to further environmental pollution. Following a discussion of approaches at national, regional and global levels, the proposals are related to a generic scenario comprising the biodiversity‐related institutional landscape and its governance systems and trends in biodiversity and its global distribution resulting from the interplay between human impacts, conservation efforts and uncertainties about the future course of evolution.
Time is of the essence. Given that most of the Aichi Targets will not be met by 2020, we now urgently need a forward‐looking new framework for biodiversity. This should not only take into account the massive systemic changes needed but also fully consider the implications of living in the Anthropocene.
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution are planetary‐scale emergencies requiring urgent mitigation actions. As these “triple crises” are deeply interlinked, they need to be tackled ...in an integrative manner. However, while climate change and biodiversity are often studied together, chemical pollution as a global change factor contributing to worldwide biodiversity loss has received much less attention in biodiversity research so far. Here, we review evidence showing that the multifaceted effects of anthropogenic chemicals in the environment are posing a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. Therefore, failure to account for pollution effects may significantly undermine the success of biodiversity protection efforts. We argue that progress in understanding and counteracting the negative impact of chemical pollution on biodiversity requires collective efforts of scientists from different disciplines, including but not limited to ecology, ecotoxicology, and environmental chemistry. Importantly, recent developments in these fields have now enabled comprehensive studies that could efficiently address the manifold interactions between chemicals and ecosystems. Based on their experience with intricate studies of biodiversity, ecologists are well equipped to embrace the additional challenge of chemical complexity through interdisciplinary collaborations. This offers a unique opportunity to jointly advance a seminal frontier in pollution ecology and facilitate the development of innovative solutions for environmental protection.
Chemical pollution has so far received insufficient attention in biodiversity research, despite being recognized as a significant driver behind biodiversity loss. Here, we provide an illustrative overview of chemical effects on biodiversity and ecosystems and argue that progress in mitigation of biodiversity loss requires concerted efforts by scientists across different disciplines. Recent methodological developments in ecology, ecotoxicology, and environmental chemistry have now enabled in‐depth studies of pollution effects on biodiversity, offering promising research avenues to jointly advance both theory and practice in understanding and counteracting worldwide loss of biodiversity.
We need to create our sustainable future now, by transforming economies into circular systems and arresting environmental pollution, manmade global heating, and destruction of the world's ...biodiversity. Of course, we must also deal with the current geopolitical and pandemic crises. A model-based approach towards the future we need builds on experience and insight into the world's complex system of systems. A model comprising spheres that represent the most important world-system components documents changes in the state of our planet and may indicate the transformations needed. Pressing problems may be analysed in their entirety and specifically, respectively. Biodiversity illustrates how the model can be applied. The authors outline steps towards its possible extension.
Purpose
This study aims to propose an approach towards reducing differences between national economies and living standards existing between the world’s wealthiest and least affluent nations.
...Design/methodology/approach
A systemic review identifies the impeding purpose as proposed above: an entirely new initiative.
Findings
The efforts recommended are vital for preserving the human species and ensuring the integrity of our planet. For both the future of the human species and the planet itself, it is essential to reduce the divide between wealthy and poor. Now is the time to give force to the types of implementation necessary to meet these combined goals.
Research limitations/implications
This essay avoids dissecting problems of current geopolitical and ideological character. Despite their sometimes contentious nature, they are often reduced by intelligent diplomacy.
Originality/value
The study proposes a holistic approach to bridging the North-South divide.
The authors propose a holistic approach to life and living after the coronavirus crisis of 2020 has become history. Their method is to postulate studied reconsideration of the true needs of the human ...species, new know‐how for all, novel codes of behavior, and drastic change to how we treat nature. Their findings name humanity's ballooning population as problem Number One. Without reverting to former ways, we need to apply our imagination to sound demographic principles, accept modest economic growth, and create much better stewardship of nature. Stated in terms of the futurist, a Great Acceleration should give way to a process we might call the Great Deceleration of humanity's tempo of life and mode of action. Readers are encouraged to eschew all thought of continuing with ‘business as usual’. A purposeful limitation is the absence of all encouragement towards regrowth of wasteful manufacture and commerce. A systemic shift towards circular and green economies should be a key advance in all business revival. Another mode of being awaits; success of the encounter depends on humankind, not on theory.
As the world now slowly edges its way from death in the hundreds of thousands, confinement and privation for those remaining, we find new urgencies at hand. Some leaders find that human survival may depend more on economic salvage than wise use of nature. Will the agency of humans saving Earth prove capable of both preserving the planet's ecological systems and quality of life for its human population?
Needed yesterday: a world that never was Richardson, Jacques G.; Erdelen, Walter R.
International journal of environmental studies,
07/04/2021, Letnik:
78, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This essay projects how a plague may be transformed into post-infection resilience. Peering into the future after Covid-19 has subsided, global heating and the burgeoning demands of the population ...remain wicked problems - hard to resolve and certainly not by business-as-usual. We have to envisage a world that was not before; new ideals, more rational objectives and more rewarding ways of life. A Great Reset may facilitate the essential transformation to sustainability. First, dramatically reduce pressures on the environment; secondly, mend our socio-economic ways. Changes must be significant and, with so many strongly dependent global linkages, better governance is needed at the global level. Support for the United Nations may require new forms of multi-scale governance; and new arrangements for leadership such as multi-nation options, regional arrangements, or a multilateral organisation. Paradigm change might be linked to fundamental reform of the UN itself.
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the history of human migration till the present day.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze the human movement from pre-hominid times, forming patterns of ...existence. Thus, ambient sun and water, weather and climate extremes, shelter, food supply, natural or human-made disasters gave rise to Homo sapiens’ wanderlust.
Findings
Despite obstacles, formidable barriers and even perilous deterrents, the species explored and exploited new soils and waters, whether beneficial or destructive of nature’s ample providence.
Originality/value
The authors treat societal as well as individual action, cultural behavior and the emergence of economic anthropology. Migratory legislation and regulation now risk transformation into resentment and then xenophobia.
Chemical pollution poses a threat to biodiversity on a global scale. This has been acknowledged in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which proposes to regulate the release of chemicals to ...the environment and names specific indicators focusing on pesticides, nutrients and plastic waste. We fully welcome the inclusion of these substances but would like to further emphasize that in order to protect biodiversity from hazardous chemicals, the scope of Target 7 should feature a wider range of pollutants that can contribute to biodiversity loss. We propose the inclusion of non-agricultural biocides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), toxic metal(loid)s, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Furthermore, data on emerging pollutants ( e.g. , rare earth elements, toxic and persistent industrial chemicals, liquid crystal monomers, pharmaceuticals, personal care products) need to be regularly reviewed with the aim to integrate additional pollutants to Target 7 in the case of biodiversity risk. We suggest to amend Target 7 to postulate the aim for the overall reduction of chemical production and emissions, as well as the addition of the aforementioned substance groups of high concern to biodiversity for integration in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. We further elaborate on different strategies for the reduction of emissions of hazardous chemicals through chemical simplification and grouping, reduction of chemicals with non-essential use, and innovative synthesis strategies ( e.g. , “benign-by-design”). In this context, the full life cycle of chemicals ( i.e. , production, use, and end of life) needs to be considered. Lastly, we propose to set up transparent data inventories, in cooperation with the industry, to inform about the production, transport and emissions of chemicals, which can serve as a basis for indicators related to monitoring the progress towards achieving the goals set under Target 7.
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