Scientists have raised alarm over New Zealand’s wildlife facing an unprecedented threat of extinction due to climate change, as revealed in a study published on Friday. The research indicates that New Zealand species are among the most vulnerable globally to climate-induced extinction.
Describing the study as “impressive and very sobering,” Nic Rawlence, director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory at the University of Otago, emphasized the serious risk to the country’s unique biodiversity. “New Zealand has been singled out. We are in the climate firing line, and the government needs to listen,” Rawlence said.
The study, based on a global analysis of 30 years of research and published in the leading scientific journal Science, found that under a projected 2.7 degrees Celsius of global warming, one in 20 species will be at risk of extinction worldwide. The findings are particularly concerning for New Zealand’s amphibians, birds, and other endemic species.
“Our country’s isolation has led to the evolution of species found nowhere else on Earth,” Rawlence noted. “Climate change is accelerating threats to these species, compounding issues like habitat loss and introduced predators.”
The research calls for urgent action to mitigate climate change impacts and protect vulnerable ecosystems. Scientists are urging policymakers to integrate conservation strategies with climate action plans to preserve New Zealand’s natural heritage.
“We have a responsibility not just nationally but globally to safeguard these species,” Rawlence urged. “Immediate and decisive action is crucial to prevent irreversible loss.”
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New Zealand wildlife highly vulnerable to climate-driven extinction
cgtn.com
