7
The human influence on the climate system is clear, and this is evident from the increase of global
temperatures, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, ocean
warming, loss of mass of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, continued shrinking of glaciers
almost worldwide, and sea levels continuing to rise (IPCC, 2013). Our human species is indeed facing
a global challenge of unprecedented climate change proportions, recently evident in the 2019
Australian bushfires as never experienced before (Fig. 1.3). For the first time in the history the State
of Victoria in Australia, the Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Disaster for 6 areas.
9
This
demonstrates the increasing urgency for humans to address anthropogenic causes of climate change,
as well as critically consider alternative methods of adaptation.
1.4 The Challenge of Ecosystems Degradation
Biodiversity and ecosystems and the services they support are fundamentally dependent on the climate; actually, on a stable climate with gradual variations and changes. Human impacts are one of the
key factors for biodiversity loss, being the main stressor for the shift in habitats and alteration (Mooney
9 Victorian fires: state of disaster declared as evacuation ordered and 28 people missing. The Age, Australian Associated
Press, 3 January 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/03/victoria-fires-state-of-disasterdeclared-as-evacuation-ordered-and-second-man-found-dead. Accessed on 3 January 2020.
Fig. 1.3 Australian Bushfires 2019–2020. (Photo by European Space Agency 2019, CC BY-SA 2.5)
1.4 The Challenge of Ecosystems Degradation
The human influence on the climate system is clear, and this is evident from the increase of global
temperatures, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, ocean
warming, loss of mass of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, continued shrinking of glaciers
almost worldwide, and sea levels continuing to rise (IPCC, 2013). Our human species is indeed facing
a global challenge of unprecedented climate change proportions, recently evident in the 2019
Australian bushfires as never experienced before (Fig. 1.3). For the first time in the history the State
of Victoria in Australia, the Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Disaster for 6 areas.
9
This
demonstrates the increasing urgency for humans to address anthropogenic causes of climate change,
as well as critically consider alternative methods of adaptation.
1.4 The Challenge of Ecosystems Degradation
Biodiversity and ecosystems and the services they support are fundamentally dependent on the climate; actually, on a stable climate with gradual variations and changes. Human impacts are one of the
key factors for biodiversity loss, being the main stressor for the shift in habitats and alteration (Mooney
9 Victorian fires: state of disaster declared as evacuation ordered and 28 people missing. The Age, Australian Associated
Press, 3 January 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/03/victoria-fires-state-of-disasterdeclared-as-evacuation-ordered-and-second-man-found-dead. Accessed on 3 January 2020.
Fig. 1.3 Australian Bushfires 2019–2020. (Photo by European Space Agency 2019, CC BY-SA 2.5)
1.4 The Challenge of Ecosystems Degradation