Philemon Yang (centre), President of the seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, addresses the high-level meeting on Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Since 2000, the United Nations (UN) has recognised May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity, aiming to promote international cooperation and dialogue surrounding biodiversity issues. Through the 2025 theme, Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development, the UN seeks to increase public awareness of biodiversity loss and promote progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition to the SDGs, this year’s event highlights the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—a set of goals for 2050 that focus on the impacts of human activity on ecological health. Some of these goals include reversing ecosystem damage by 20 percent and reducing the introduction of invasive species by 50 percent.
Recognising the key drivers of biodiversity loss and ecological degradation is of the utmost importance for the preservation of human health. According to UN figures, current practices that undermine ecological health are estimated to hinder progress toward 80 percent of the SDGs. Additionally, humanitarian organisations have expressed concern as the current rate of extinction is higher than ever before. It is estimated that approximately 1 million plant and animal species are currently at risk of extinction, posing significant threats to human stability.
“Biodiversity is the bedrock of life and a cornerstone of sustainable development. Yet humanity is destroying biodiversity at lightning pace – the result of pollution, the climate crisis, ecosystem destruction, and – ultimately – short-term interests fuelling the unsustainable use of our natural world,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “No one country, however rich or powerful, can address it alone. Nor can they live without the rich biodiversity that defines our planet.”
Currently, several vital ecosystems integral to human health—including lakes, forests, oceans, and farmlands—are under threat from extreme biodiversity loss. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), biodiversity is a “key environmental determinant of human health.” Figures from the Geneva Environment Network indicate that roughly 75 percent of terrestrial ecosystems and 66 percent of marine ecosystems have been significantly “altered” by human actions.
This poses a massive risk to human health, as roughly 80 percent of the human diet is composed of plants cultivated in these threatened areas. It is also estimated that at least 80 percent of individuals in rural communities depend on traditional plant medicines for healthcare. Additionally, a third of freshwater species are currently threatened by biodiversity loss, putting 3 billion people who rely on fish for animal protein at risk of food insecurity.
High levels of biodiversity among crop species are essential to ensuring adequate food security. Degraded agricultural ecosystems are highly vulnerable to damage from pesticides, disease, and natural disasters. It is estimated that anywhere from 1.3 to 3.2 billion people depend on food supplied from areas affected by environmental degradation.
The UN also underscores the importance of ecological health to human life, as environmental degradation increases the severity of natural disasters, conflict, and zoonotic disease. Vulnerable populations—such as the elderly, Indigenous communities, the disabled, women, and people living in poverty—are disproportionately affected.
For example, damage to coastal mangroves in South Asia has been known to exacerbate the severity of tropical cyclones. Deforestation has also contributed to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Wildfires, ocean acidification, and rising global temperatures are likewise linked to biodiversity loss.
Widespread biodiversity loss also threatens to significantly damage the global economy, potentially resulting in billions of dollars in losses if left unaddressed. The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that approximately USD 44 trillion—around half the world’s gross domestic product—is dependent on natural resources.
It is further projected that the world could experience an average annual economic decline of USD 2.7 trillion by 2030 if biodiversity loss continues at the current rate. Several building blocks of human society—including social well-being, equality, and economic development—will be affected globally.
Biodiversity loss also worsens the climate crisis. Carbon sinks—ecosystems that store significant amounts of carbon and help offset global greenhouse gas emissions—are vital to preventing the progression of climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Amazon rainforest is one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, storing approximately 123 billion tons of carbon above and below ground. However, due to deforestation, the Amazon’s carbon storage capacity has weakened and, at times, it emits more carbon than it stores.
To ensure the longevity of human life and planetary well-being, it is imperative that regulations be enacted to enable sustainable consumption practices on a wide scale.
Cooperation among governments, scientists, policymakers, and citizens is the only way to reverse biodiversity loss and ensure the stability of global food systems. Governments should also consult independent bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) when drafting comprehensive policies and solutions.
Furthermore, solutions to biodiversity loss must centre on the most vulnerable populations, as a sustainable future must include people from all walks of life.
“As we pursue sustainable development, we must transform how we produce and consume, and how we value nature, and deliver on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We need policies, regulations, and other incentives to support sustainable livelihoods and build strong, green economies,” said Guterres.
“That means governments building on progress made at CBD COP16, including by delivering domestic and international finance, and shifting public subsidies and other financial flows away from activities that harm nature. And it means countries delivering National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans that put the Framework into effect, address inequality, advance sustainable development, respect traditional knowledge, and empower women, girls, Indigenous people and more.”