Nature loss: Major report to highlight 'natural and human emergency'
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48059043Nature loss: Major report to highlight 'natural and human emergency'
By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent
28 April 2019
Scientists and government officials meet this week in Paris to finalise a key assessment on humanity's relationship with nature.
The Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, or IPBES, will issue the first report of this type since 2005. It will detail the past losses and future prospects for nature and humans.
One author says the report will highlight the "social and ecological emergency" the world is now facing.
From Monday some of the world's leading researchers in the field of biodiversity will meet in the French capital to work through the details of their report with representatives from 132 governments. Their conclusions, known as a Summary for Policymakers, will then be published on 6 May.
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The full report, stretching to 1,800 pages, will be published at the same time as the 40-page summary. The details of the summary will remain under wraps until the scientists and political representatives have agreed every last word.
However, as much of the information has been published in one form or another in previous years, we have a reasonable idea of the key messages. It will likely warn that we are on the brink of a rapid acceleration of the global rate of loss of species. And it will say the threat these losses pose - and the challenge that presents - is on a par with climate change.
It's probable also that it will say that farming, deforestation and our demands for energy are undermining the services we get from nature.
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Thanks for posting it here. There's a graphic in the article that points out different aspects of the outdoors--such items as which cities access the most time in our parks, etc. However, at the top of the graphic is a very interesting figure which shows that Caucasians spend way more time on outdoor activities than minorities. Anyone want to speculate as to why that might be?
I work in a job with the purpose of getting kids outdoors more, specifically, engaged in gardening. Based on what I see, the minorities who garden in our community gardens live in apartments. Maybe having access to a yard changes that?
"details of the summary will remain under wraps until the scientists and political representatives have agreed every last word."
As if *that's* gonna happen. 