The climate and biodiversity crises are not only major global challenges on their own, but also compound one another. Both crises – and their societal and environmental impacts – are inextricably linked. Climate change and its associated ecosystem disruption are key drivers of biodiversity loss.¹ The loss of biodiversity, in turn, reduces ecosystems’ capacities to weather the effects of climate change and provide vital services.² Global biodiversity also plays a role in climate regulation and carbon sequestration.³
These links are even stronger within agriculture and food systems. Biodiversity loss is closely tied to food systems, posing a significant concern for both ecosystems and human wellbeing. Despite the importance of biodiversity for sustaining food systems, the global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. Agriculture, especially over the last 50 years, stands out as the main driver of habitat loss, accounting for 80% of all global land-use changes, primarily through the conversion of natural ecosystems for crop production and pastures.⁴ The impact habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity can vary substantially across biomes and geographies.⁵ However, in 65% of terrestrial ecosystems, land-use pressures have been associated with a loss of biodiversity intactness that exceeded the threshold⁶ identified as ‘safe operating space’ for biodiversity in the Planetary Boundary framework.⁷
