Renewable energy capacity is set to expand 50% between 2019 and 2024, led by solar energy. This is according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) ‘Renewable 2020’ report, which found that solar, wind and hydropower projects are rolling out at their fastest rate in four years, making for the argument that the future lies in using renewable energy. 

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The Future of Renewable Energy: Growth Projections

Renewable energy resources make up 26% of the world’s electricity today, but according to the IEA its share is expected to reach 30% by 2024. The resurgence follows a global slowdown in 2019, due to falling technology costs and rising environmental concerns.

Renewable energy in the future is predicted that by 2024, solar capacity in the world will grow by 600 gigawatts (GW), almost double the installed total electricity capacity of Japan. Overall, renewable electricity is predicted to grow by 1 200 GW by 2024, the equivalent of the total electricity capacity of the US. 

The IEA is an autonomous inter-governmental organisation that was initially created after the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. It now acts as an energy policy advisor to 29 member countries and the European Commission to shape energy policies for a secure and sustainable future.

1. Solar Will Become 35% Cheaper By 2024

When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the panel. This energy creates electrical charges that move in response to an internal electrical field in the cell, causing electricity to flow.

Industry experts predict that the US will double its solar installations to four million by 2023. In 2018, the UK had over one million solar panel installations, up by 2% from the previous year and Australia reached two million solar installations in the same year. A big reason for this increased uptake is the fall in prices to install the panels.

The cost of solar PV-based power declined by 13% in 2018, while Carbon Tracker predicts that 72% of coal-based power will become globally unprofitable by 2040. The IEA report found that solar energy will account for 60% of the predicted renewable growth, primarily due to its accessibility. Compared with the previous six-year period, expansion of solar energy has more than doubled. The cost of solar power is expected to decline by 15% to 35% by 2024, spurring further growth over the second half of the decade.

Future Capacity of Solar Energy

Wind and hydropower often require users to live in specific locations, but solar offers more freedom; the sun rises and sets on a predictable schedule, and it’s not as variable as running water or wind. Residential solar power is expected to expand from 58 GW in 2018 to 142 GW by 2024, and annual capacity additions are expected to more than triple to over 20 GW by 2024. China is expected to register the largest installed residential solar capacity in the world by 2024, with the strongest per capita growth in Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria.

Solar facilities will continue reducing their variability rates by storing electricity during the day and running at night. However, advanced solar plants will operate on higher DC to AC ratios, meaning they’ll deliver more consistent service for longer durations.

Commercial and residential buildings will keep running at full capacity even in periods of low sunlight. Closing the gaps between sunlight collection and electricity generation will spur residents and corporations to join the solar movement. Therefore, it’s imperative for governments to implement incentive and remuneration schemes, as well as effective regulation policies. For example, California has mandated that after 2020, solar panels must be installed on new homes and buildings of up to three storeys.

Commercial and industrial solar energy capacity is forecast to constitute 377 GW in 2024, up from 150 GW in 2018, with China predicted to be the largest growth market. This market remains the largest growth segment because solar power is usually more inexpensive and has a relatively stable load profile during the day, which generally enables larger savings on electricity bills.

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2. Onshore Wind Energy Capacity Will Increase 57% By 2024

To generate electricity using wind, wind turns the propeller-like blades of a turbine around a rotor, which spins a generator, which creates electricity.

The adoption of wind power is becoming more prominent due to increased capacity.

Onshore wind capacity is expected to expand by 57% to 850 GW by 2024. Annual onshore wind additions will be led by the US and China, owing to a development rush and a policy transition to competitive auctions respectively. Expansion will accelerate in the EU as competitive auctions continue to keep costs relatively low. These auctions will mean that growth in Latin America, the MENA region, Eurasia and sub-Saharan Africa will remain stable over the forecast period. 

Offshore wind capacity is forecast to increase almost threefold to 65 GW by 2024, representing almost 10% of total world wind generation. While the EU accounts for half of global offshore wind capacity expansion over the forecast period, on a country basis, China leads deployment, with 12.5 GW in development. The first large US capacity additions are also expected during the forecast period. 

Japan Expands Wind Energy

Japan is experimenting with the idea of installing offshore turbines to replace many of their nuclear reactors, a result of the country’s 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima. The company Marubeni recently signed a project agreement to build offshore farms in northern Japan, with each farm able to produce 140 MW of power.

Japanese lawmakers have created regulations to give developers more certainty in constructing sources of wind-based electricity; legislation outlining competitive bidding processes has been passed to ensure that building costs are reduced and developers consider potential capacity issues. The country’s Port and Harbour Law has also been revised to spur wind turbine construction in port-associated areas and other locations favourable to wind turbines. 

Grid integration, financing and social acceptance remain the key challenges to faster wind expansion globally. 

3. Hydroelectric Capacity Will Rise 9% By 2024

Hydropower plants capture the energy of falling water to generate electricity. A turbine converts the kinetic energy of falling water into mechanical energy. Then a generator converts the mechanical energy from the turbine into electrical energy.

According to the IEA, hydropower will remain the world’s primary source of renewable power in 2024. Capacity is set to increase 9% (121 GW) over the forecast period, led by China, India and Brazil. 25% of global growth is expected to come from just three megaprojects: two in China (the 16 GW Wudongde and 10 GW Baihetan projects) and one in Ethiopia (the 6.2 GW Grand Renaissance project).

However, there has been a slowdown in the two largest markets, China and Brazil; growth is challenged by rising investment costs due to limited remaining economical sites and extra expenditures in addressing social and environmental impacts.

Nevertheless, annual additions are expected to expand in sub-Saharan Africa and in the ASEAN region as untapped potential is used to meet rising power demand. 

4. Geothermal Capacity Will Increase 28% By 2024

To generate geothermal energy, hot water is pumped from deep underground through a well under high pressure. When the water reaches the surface, the pressure is dropped, which causes the water to turn into steam. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces electricity. The steam cools off in a cooling tower and condenses back to water. The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth to begin the process again.

The US market for geothermal heat pumps will exceed $2 billion by 2024 as demand for efficient heating solutions increases. Transformed building codes will encourage a move to renewable heating and electricity systems in commercial and residential real estates. 

Geothermal capacity is anticipated to grow 28%, reaching 18 GW by 2024, with Asia responsible for one-third of global expansion, particularly Indonesia and the Philippines, followed by Kenya, whose geothermal capacity is set to overtake Iceland’s during the forecast period. 

The same research from Global Market Insights predicts the commercial market will experience the most considerable uptick; according to the Department of Energy, geothermal solutions will generate 8.5% of all electricity in the US by 2050. 

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The Future Lies in Using Renewable Energy

Renewable energy will continue to rise in the upcoming decade, edging out fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

“This is a pivotal time for renewable energy,” said the IEA’s executive director, Fatih Birol. “Technologies such as solar and wind are at the heart of transformations taking place across the global energy system. Their increasing deployment is crucial for efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, reduce air pollution, and expand energy access.”

The post What the Future of Renewable Energy Looks Like appeared first on Earth.Org.

Will the climate crisis lead to war? Past violent conflicts have always arisen from political or ideological differences but as the climate crisis intensifies and depletes more of the planet’s natural resources, more conflict from deprivation and migration will occur. 

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Extreme Weather Leads to Migration

There are various implications of the climate crisis. Greenhouse gas emissions have produced more intense and frequent weather patterns, which has led to more extreme weather events like droughts and wildfires, as can be seen with the California, Washington and Oregon wildfires, whereby drier conditions caused by lack of rainfall have caused fires to rage out of control, causing extensive damage to anything in its path. 

An extreme weather event doesn’t typically lead to unrest unless there’s more at play. It’s no coincidence that Syria’s current civil war started after a drought that drove nearly 1.5 million people to migrate to cities with limited resources. This war started for multiple reasons, but Syria’s water scarcity concerns added to its severe and dangerous instability.

In 2018, 17.2 million people were displaced by extreme weather events worldwide, either within their countries or to new ones. From Sub-Saharan Africa to Latin America, it’s clear that communities are under stress from the climate crisis. These movements put a strain on resources and their homelands. The outcome? One overpopulated area, one deserted area.

Increased climate migration will become a stressor for migrants, citizens and leaders. Therefore, it’s essential to take action, so people aren’t forced to leave their homes. Though climate change legislation won’t solve every problem immediately, it’ll create a better future for vulnerable generations.

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Populations Rely on Food Production

Numerous countries face food insecurity. In South Sudan, 6 million people have dealt with famine-inducing food shortages since 2017, due to both powerful floods and political instability. Countries like Venezuela and Afghanistan will encounter similar issues through 2020 and beyond. 

It’s nearly impossible to endure environmental issues such as pollution and heat if you are a subsistence farmer. Concerns like topsoil erosion and crop diversity create further obstacles for farmers. If you can’t grow a variety of nutritious crops, your family and community suffer. As crops endure detrimental changes worldwide, populations may become hostile.

Consider Sudan’s Darfur conflict. It wasn’t long before farmers and herders defaulted to war after diminished rainfall caused a significant drought. They had to compete for land- and a climate crisis – induced conflict ensued. Other factors like race were at fault, too. But this shows that when a necessity such as food becomes threatened, it’s a recipe for eventual conflict.

It’s imperative to find solutions to food scarcity before concerns arise. There’s a domino effect at play. When climate change depletes resources, impoverished areas will likely experience economic devastation because these communities rely on their own food production to earn an income. Further, it’s much more difficult to work when you’ve endured numerous famine-related consequences health-wise.

Citizens Have to Compete for Goods

It’s clear that the climate crisis has exacerbated migrant and refugee situations. As countries experience water and food scarcity, it’s become crucial for people to pursue better livelihoods. There are also instances where extreme weather has forced citizens to leave their homes because they can’t safely remain. 

These trends create a significant issue for both rural and urban communities. A rural town can’t exist without an active population. But it’s also tough for urban places to meet demands when they experience a migrant or refugee influx. This process could lead to a fight for livelihood. A situation like the Arab Spring alludes to the fact that climate change stressors create revolutions.

In 2010, Middle Eastern and North African countries became subject to high food prices as global wheat crops diminished due to unprecedented summer droughts and high temperatures. When goods become more expensive and scarce, it’s not long before populations start reacting. 

Additionally, locals in the countries to which these migrants flee aren’t always welcoming. In a 2019 UK poll, 44% of respondents said the number of immigrants should be reduced while only 17% said it should increase. This point isn’t to say that citizens will start conflicts over new residents, but they still exists a perception that they will have to “compete” with migrants for jobs or benefits. As climate migrants become a more widespread occurrence, efforts to solve the climate crisis affects everyone, regardless of the economic class they belong to.

Without Action, Tensions and Stressors Will Develop

As a society, it’s imperative to move toward meaningful climate change solutions. These efforts can help save millions from potential disaster and famine. New initiatives that stave off the climate crisis are crucial if countries want to avoid eventual conflict. While climate change has never been a single cause for unrest, it’s become more difficult to manage as a planet. We must find solutions for water and food scarcity as well as migration before it’s too late.

Featured image by: Flickr 

The post How Addressing the Climate Crisis Will Assist With Global Conflict appeared first on Earth.Org.

The use of agricultural pesticides is widespread. Countries all around the world utilise hundreds of different chemicals in their pest management plans and while pesticide use is sometimes necessary, especially in the case of large insect outbreaks like locusts, the effects on human health and safety have long been debated. Research is increasingly showing that many pesticides cause a wide array of health issues, including cancer and birth defects.

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Regulation plays a key role in the issue of pesticide safety. The four largest agricultural producers are the United States, the European Union, Brazil and China. Each of these countries holds different standards of pesticide safety protocol and adheres to various regulations.

The US has some of the most lax restrictions in terms of pesticide safety regulations; in fact, several of the pesticides used in the US are banned in the EU. In Brazil, pesticide regulation is primarily managed by the federal government, making it difficult to affect change in response to safety concerns. The current administration in Brazil, under President Bolsonaro, has approved thousands of pesticides that are currently banned in other countries.

While there may certainly be a positive correlation between higher pesticide usage and agricultural exports, strict pesticide regulations do not equate to lower food exports. The EU, for example, which exports more agricultural products than China, Brazil and the US combined, has the most stringent pesticide laws.

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Researchers are just beginning to study the long-term effects of pesticide use. The climate crisis plays a significant role in the increased risk of pest pressure, especially in areas experiencing substantial temperature changes and shifts in weather patterns. Studies show that climate change is exacerbating pest occurrence in some regions, such as ticks in the northeast US due to milder winters and mosquito-borne disease in the southern hemisphere. The current crisis of desert locust swarms throughout parts of Africa and the Middle East are also theorised to be due in part to recent record levels of rainfall.

More pests is only one symptom of a changing climate that’s making many crops around the world vulnerable to disease. Increased pest pressure may cause crop failure, but pesticides are not necessarily the solution. For example, spraying pesticides to kill “bad” pests may be a short-term solution, but it also reduces the ecosystem’s capacity to be resilient to future threats of disease, by harming soil organisms, impacting on water quality and eradicating beneficial insects. 

Pesticide Use and the Climate Crisis

Pesticide use in agriculture has increased dramatically in the last few decades. Pesticides were invented in the 1930s and were used widely after World War II. Many synthetic chemicals, such as DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), were invented as weapons to mitigate insect-borne diseases during times of war, such as malaria. The discovery of the ill-effects of these chemicals on insects instigated deeper investigations into how insecticides could be applied in agriculture. DDT was first used in agricultural applications in 1945. 

The role of agricultural pesticides in exacerbating the climate crisis is controversial. Many growing practices that require the regular use of pesticides are likely to be ecologically detrimental since they require removing valuable nutrients from the soil for crops to thrive.  Synthetic chemicals remain in the environment, which can negatively impact the environment even after their use is banned. Some pesticides have shorter lifespans, but there is still ongoing research into how they impact the mycorrhizae within the soil, which keep soil healthy. 

The climate crisis has a two-fold effect on how farmers respond to pesticides. On one hand, increased severe weather and pest pressure push farmers to “control” conditions more stringently. On the other hand, many farmers are realising that pesticides have a negative effect on the resiliency of an ecosystem to respond to unprecedented conditions. For example, pesticide use may increase yield for a few years despite high temperatures or drought, but they also may cause irreparable damage to soil nutrients, beneficial insects, and irrigation sources. 

That said, the growing issue of climate change may lead to positive adjustments within the agricultural realm. For example, many farmers around the world are learning the impact of pesticides on their health, community and the environment. As more options become available, they seek out sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemicals.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural communities worldwide are feeling the vulnerability of food insecurity, lack of access to necessary supplies and changes in the global economy. Trade regulations and travel restrictions are impacting the import and export of pesticides. Timeline delays mean that farmers are not able to access chemicals when they need them. A lack of labour is also making it more difficult to spray at the correct time, forcing farmers to look for alternative methods.

Significant delays in the global pesticide market are inspiring many farmers to consider natural alternatives to control pests, such as beneficial insects. Additionally, with the global economy temporarily slowed down, many farmers are looking for localised crop technology to incorporate into their integrated pest management plans. Many farmers are familiarising themselves with more regional solutions that take into account local climate, soil type and other considerations that can increase yields. For example, more farmers are using cover crops and intercropping to cut down on weeds, reduce pest pressure and save water.

 Pesticides and Genetically Modified Seeds

Safety concerns regarding pesticide use extend far beyond spraying crop fields. Many seeds are now genetically modified to withstand potent chemicals, neutralizing  pesticide efficacy. RoundUp Ready corn, engineered by Monsanto, is specifically designed to be resistant to chemical sprays. Crops like soy, corn and rapeseed are the most common genetically modified crops on the market, and there is growing controversy over their safety.

The effects of genetically modified seeds on human health are still widely unknown, but the lack of regulation on their distribution raises concerns from environmentalists worldwide. In Chile, agricultural communities and environmentalists have come together to protect the expansion of a new seed production factory owned by Bayer-Monsanto. Monsanto has seen its fair share of criticism. Bayer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, purchased Monsanto, one of the largest agricultural companies in the world, in a $66 billion merger that was finalized in 2018.

Monsanto has a long history of accusations against their purported “safe” pesticides and production of genetically modified seeds. The corporation is integral to global agriculture today, as the largest producer of pesticides and the inventor of genetically modified seeds. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against them, claiming that glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s best-selling pesticide, RoundUp, causes cancer. The latest lawsuit was settled in 2020, with Bayer-Monsanto settling to pay over $10 billion, only two years after the corporation paid $289 million to a school groundskeeper who got cancer after regularly spraying RoundUp on school grounds.

In addition to pesticide health concerns, there is also growing concern over the widespread use of genetically modified crops in Brazil, as there is little to no regulation of their standards in comparison to many other countries. Many small farmers who save their own seeds say that genetically modified crops are cross-pollinating and tainting their seed genetics. Because of the lack of protection for non-GM crops, many farmers fear that modified genes in corn and soy, specifically, can breed with heirloom varieties, ruining their own genetics. Monsanto controls the majority of the GMO market, and has set restrictive measures for farmers who have voiced concern over seed breeding.

Chile is the largest exporter of seeds in the southern hemisphere, and the distribution of genetically modified seeds threatens the sovereignty of regional farmers who have cultivated specific genetics for decades. The use of pesticides contributes to the contamination of local seeds, whose genetics are not protected.

Safety Use of Pesticides in Agriculture

Pesticide safety continues to be an issue around the world, especially as more companies incorporate genetically modified crops into their growing plans. The four largest agricultural exporters, China, the EU, Brazil and the United States, are responsible for the vast majority of agricultural pesticides.

With this responsibility comes an opportunity to improve regulations. When it comes to the United States, regulations are lax because of the high level of dependence of American farmers on genetically modified seeds and pesticides. The US agricultural exports are mostly non-human consumptive products, such as soy fodder for livestock or corn for ethanol production.

In the face of the climate crisis, finding sustainable alternatives to heavy pesticide use is vital. Research confirms that pesticides are dangerous for the environment and human health, but few safety regulations are in place mostly due to a lack of consumer awareness and lack of commitment from governments to change the status quo. The levels of pesticides in food are significant, but no labeling is necessary when consuming food items that are genetically modified or heavily sprayed with chemicals, depending on your country’s allowable pesticide residue regulations.

As concerns over carcinogenic chemicals and unregulated seed engineering grow among consumers, increasing awareness of potential health issues and consumer demand for stricter regulations is the only way to potentially change the future of pesticides in farming.

The post The Ongoing Issue of Pesticide Safety appeared first on Earth.Org.

Scientists have discovered dozens of new coral species on a recent expedition along the Great Barrier Reef, a find that will provide insights to aid conservation and management. However, researchers have warned of complacency and say that a lot more needs to be done for the marvel that has experienced three mass bleaching events in five years. 

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The 21-day expedition in early January saw a team of researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), James Cook University (JCU) and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) observe the Great Barrier Reef by collecting coral samples and recording the aquatic life they found. The expedition ranged from the Capricorn Bunkers off Gladstone to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.

The Great Barrier Reef experienced mass bleaching events in 2016, 2017, and early this year. Bleaching is how coral reacts to ocean temperature changes. Symbiotic algae live in the corals’ tissues and turn the entire reef section white when exposed to these warmer temperatures for an extended period of time, eventually killing the coral.

New Coral Species

Associate Professor of Marine Science from KAUST, Dr. Francesca Benzoni, stated in a local interview, “On almost every dive we were finding new species of corals that have never been accurately described and classified.” 

Their findings led the researchers to conclude that the biodiversity of some coral groups could be at least three times greater than initially believed.

Additionally, the findings of the expedition revealed that one hard coral species, Acropora hyacinthus, previously thought to be a single species, is potentially five different species that all live relatively close together. The team also surveyed black corals on the reef for the first time.

The research also showed the discovery of a number of species of coral not previously seen on the reef.

These findings will aid in management and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef, by indicating the quantity of coral species, how common they are and the locations of specific coral species, which will impact scientists and biologists who use the Great Barrier Reef for different kinds of research. As the weeks and months progress, management professionals in conservation will need to readjust how they record findings from the reef and consider if any other corals could present new species as well.

This expedition’s findings will alter scientific studies and change how environmental companies protect and preserve the environment regarding climate change monitoring. 

Further dives will focus on how common these new coral species are on the reef and if they’re widespread. Scientists will begin to look at previously known corals differently and plan future projects that will catalog every new finding. 

Based on how they store information and comb through coral species, diving teams could change how experts manage the Great Barrier Reef and view other corals from around the world. The taxonomy field will become a new focus and shed light on hard and soft corals, both cataloged and newly discovered.

They say, “Understanding the diversity of species on the reef underpins virtually every area of research and conservation.”

While news of this new coral species is positive, the researchers have called for more research and funding to be able to ‘reassess the taxonomy of common groups found on the reef, including hard, soft and black corals’. Additionally, they call for countries to reduce carbon emissions to avoid catastrophic ocean warming that would decimate coral reefs globally. The IPCC has warned that even if warming is limited to the 1.5 degrees Celsius target outlined in the Paris Agreement, ‘almost all warm-water coral reefs are projected to suffer significant losses of area and local extinctions’. 

However, the UN Environment Programme said in late 2019 that even if countries meet their Paris commitments, the world is heading for a 3.2 degree Celsius global temperature rise over pre-industrial levels. This makes it all the more important that countries reduce their carbon emissions and create policies and incentives for companies to do the same to avoid even more destructive climate impacts.

Featured image by: G. Lamar

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A study of global insect populations has revealed that 40% of the world’s insect species are threatened with extinction. This revelation is alarming, spelling an uncertain future at best and a major ecosystem collapse at worst. 

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Insect Populations Decline

Insecticides and habitat loss are two major causes of dwindling insect numbers around the world. A habitat’s transformation- or destruction- completely uproots the ecosystems existing there, which is devastating for many organisms. Intensive agriculture has caused much of the current habitat loss, emphasising the need for sustainable farming methods. Monoculture farming creates vast fields of singular crops, which is convenient for farming productivity, but not for plants, which may get eaten in larger quantities by plant-eating insects that favour the singular crops.

These fields envelop previously thriving land and take the place of natural structures like trees and rivers. Organisms like mosquitoes are less likely to exist and reproduce in areas without bodies of water; three must occur in standing water sources of the four lifecycle stages they experience. Aquatic insects will disappear completely; dragonflies and caddisflies have already seen considerable losses. Those that manage to find viable bodies of water must contend with pollution and oxygen loss as a result of synthetic fertilisers.

According to the study, the species most threatened are Lepidoptera, an order of insects that includes butterflies, Hymenoptera, an order that includes bees, as well as dung beetles.

Studies of insect declines are notoriously limited, however, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, most studies focus on the US and Europe, with little information on other territories. Very few studies have tracked insect biomass over the long term. It’s also difficult to gauge the types of insects that are disappearing- much more information exists about bees and butterflies than ants, for example. Despite these limitations, it’s clear that numerous environments are facing an alarming number of insect disappearances.

The Ramifications of the Loss of Insect Populations

Insects do a lot of heavy lifting to keep the world’s ecosystems afloat. Professor Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex notes that insects perform vital roles such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient recycling. They are also food for numerous larger animals, including birds, bats, fish, amphibians, and lizards’. If one section of the food chain disappears in a given area, the entire system could collapse.

Flying insects in Germany have diminished by more than 75% in under 30 years. Researchers used Malaise traps to record the biomass of flying arthropods in protected areas and found that both endangered and safe species- such as wild bees and moths- have experienced a significant drop in numbers. Fewer bugs will cause a decline in the creatures that consume them, signaling major biodiversity loss.

Flowers and plants will experience lower pollination rates from a lack of pollinators, while invasive organisms will drive out native insects. For example, in South Africa, the introduction of aquatic predators like rainbow trout has crowded out Ecchlorolestes peringueyi, a rare species of dragonfly. The planting of exotic trees along riverbanks has further diminished the diversity of dragonfly species. As foreign animals adapt to a new environment, they often bring a cascade of adverse effects for the native ones. The invasive species may prey on the native ones and further their shrinking numbers, or they can bring more invaders, turning the ecosystem on its head. 

New plants can spring up when native bugs aren’t there to eat them. A study of invasive plants revealed that they have a reducing effects of 56% on animal abundance, diversity, fitness, and ecosystem function across different ecosystems, animal classes, and feeding types with no increasing effects. 

What We Can Do

Insect-saving initiatives exist across the world for bees, butterflies, and numerous other affected creatures. Homes can be made more insect-friendly by creating pollination gardens or establishing ponds for aquatic bugs. Agrochemicals like pesticides or synthetic fertilisers should be avoided. The innards of a dead tree can serve as bee habitats; on a community level, parks and gardens should be advocated for. 

Governments can help prevent insect decline as well. In Germany, a €100 million project to help protect native insects is underway, with a quarter of the money earmarked for research and monitoring. Much of the rest will go toward protecting insect habitats, decreasing disruptive light pollution, and phasing out the use of the world’s most popular weedkiller, glyphosate- better known as Roundup- which often kills the native plants that insects need for survival. The United Nations has also called on governments around the world to stop biodiversity loss by protecting critical habitats and restoring damaged ecosystems.

Practical countermeasures can halt an insect extinction before it’s too late. All ecosystems should be preserved and protected to avoid collapses of those that rely on each other for survival. 

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