[The Typing Baker] Endangered Species Speak Out, Saying Next in Line Is You

New Release 'The Extinction of Species'
Humanity at a Turning Point
"Species Diversity Is the Foundation of the Life We Must Live"

Has there ever been a moment like this summer when humans could truly feel that they are part of nature? On the 22nd, even on ‘Cheoseo,’ the day when the heat is said to disappear, the entire country was sweltering with tropical nights. Seoul experienced its 32nd consecutive tropical night, breaking the longest record. Days when the perceived temperature approached 40 degrees Celsius were commonplace. Patients surged due to the unprecedented heatwave. This is the result of human-induced climate change.

The boomerang thrown by humans is coming back. Humans are destroying forests the size of a soccer field every 4 seconds, pushing hundreds of thousands of species toward extinction. With every species lost due to environmental destruction, millions of years of evolutionary history are being dismantled. The next species at risk of extinction is likely to be humans themselves.

The book Extinction of Species points out that humanity stands at a turning point. The biggest problem is the collapse of biodiversity. The author explains that while we have long focused only on the extinction of individual animals such as apes, elephants, and rhinoceroses, what is crucial is the habitats that have been destroyed or degraded to the point where they can no longer support life.

[The Typing Baker] Endangered Species Speak Out, Saying Next in Line Is You

Until now, we have not properly sensed this problem, but there was an event a few years ago that humanity felt firsthand: the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the exact origin of COVID-19 has not yet been definitively determined, there is no disagreement that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans. When people come into close contact with wild animals, viruses can be transmitted, and other diseases can also emerge. The recently emerging Ebola, Zika virus, and influenza are similar cases. All are closely related to habitat destruction.

Among these viruses, at least one-third can be transmitted to humans. The more humans drastically alter natural ecosystems and their species, the higher the probability of transmission becomes. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assesses that “without preventive strategies, epidemics will occur more frequently, spread more rapidly, cause more deaths, and inflict unprecedented suffering on the global economy.” Although preventive measures may seem costly at first glance, in the long run, they are far less expensive than tracking epidemics late or mitigating economic and health damages.

The author cites five major causes of biodiversity loss: land-use change, overexploitation of species, climate change, pollution, and the spread of invasive species, collectively called the ‘Big Five.’ Among these, the impact of climate change on biodiversity is currently limited but is expected to become significant in the future. We witness daily that extreme weather events like the heatwave that struck the Korean Peninsula this summer are clearly increasing in frequency, intensity, and duration.

Climate change can force species to relocate their habitats. Rising temperatures themselves can be dangerous. Plants and animals cannot adequately cope with increasing temperatures and droughts. Global warming alone poses a considerable risk of biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage or alteration. Of approximately 8 million species, 1 million are at risk of extinction. If temperatures rise even slightly more, this risk will undoubtedly increase.

The author emphasizes the need for political action. To preserve biodiversity, changes in lifestyle accompanied by laws and regulations that translate into action are necessary. It is a way for all of us to share responsibility and contribute. The author proposes the ten most important measures that must be swiftly implemented by governments, corporations, agriculture, the media, culture, and all of us. The extinction of species, including humans, has already arrived. Now is the time to act urgently.