Humans have wiped out nearly 70 percent of animal populations around the world in just 50 years, according to conservationists.
The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report found that wildlife numbers have fallen by 69 percent on average between 1970 to 2018.
To put it in a different perspective, the decline is equivalent to losing all the people in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and China.
Tanya Steele, the WWF-UK’s chief executive, said that the stark decline isn’t even the biggest issue. “For us, the biggest concern isn’t just the numbers,” she said. “It’s the fact that there is absolutely no action — world leaders are missing in action.”
The organization said while numerous factors have contributed to this decline, it appears that climate change has made the biggest impact. And it seems like no animal is safe — from mammals to fish, birds to primates, animals around the world are slowly dying off.
“The world is waking up to the fact that our future depends on reversing the loss of nature just as much as it depends on addressing climate change,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of WWF-US. “You can’t solve one without solving the other. Everyone has a role to play in reversing these trends, from individuals to companies to governments.
It cannot be stressed enough that climate change is not only real but it requires action. Especially by the Church. In Genesis 1, God commands His people to “rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28). Later in Genesis 6, God commands Noah to keep the animals alive while on the ark.
Christians are called to “serve and protect” creation (Genesis 2:15). That commandment will be hard to keep if there’s no creation left.
