Thousands of scientists from different countries have come together to make another "warning to humanity" about the unprecedented threats that we as a species and, more importantly, our planet as a whole are facing today. This document lists the main threats that scientists believe, including climate change, population growth, deforestation, species extinction and loss of access to clean water. In addition, scientists are paying attention to how badly we are working to eliminate these threats.
1992 warning
In fact, the new document is an updated version of a letter called "Alert from World Scientists" sent out by a group of scientists in 1992. In it, 1,700 scientists, including most of the Nobel Prize winners in the field of science at the time, declared what, in their opinion, represents the greatest danger to the planet and humanity. The fact that this letter had to be updated 25 years later is not encouraging.
“With the exception of the stabilization of the stratospheric ozone layer,” the authors write in this updated document, “humanity has not been able to make sufficient progress in the overall solution of the environmental problems we foreseen.” Also, scientists note that many of these problems have only worsened.
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What has changed in 25 years
This "second notice" was signed by 15,000 scientists from 184 different countries. It builds on the warning in the first letter and analyzes how we live now.
In 1992, scientists raised concerns about "ozone depletion, fresh water availability, depletion of marine life, ocean dead zones, forest loss, biodiversity destruction, climate change and further population growth." Now, 25 years later, each of these threats, with the exception of the ozone layer, has worsened.
During this time, the number of people in the world has increased by 2 billion, or 35 percent. Some 121 million hectares of forest have been cleared, ocean dead zones have increased by 75 percent, and the amount of fresh water per person has decreased by 26 percent.
Solution
But the researchers point out that we shouldn't despair. The fact that decisive and collective action has helped us get rid of the threat posed by the state of the ozone layer shows that global action and the implementation of agreements will help to address all other threats. Scientists believe that increasing pressure on governments and industry will help solve the most pressing problems.
“As most political leaders respond to pressure, academics, the media and ordinary people must insist that their governments take immediate action to preserve the planet for present and future generations,” they write.
“Through organized effort, stubborn opposition can be overcome and political leaders are forced to do the right thing.”
Anna Pismenna
