ESA Urges All Nations to Take Climate Action at COP26
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) calls on world leaders attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow to pledge immediate action to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions that limits rising temperatures to 1.5⁰ C and to expand efforts to facilitate adaptation efforts in vulnerable regions of the world.
Scientists are observing unprecedented changes in the Earth’s climate system due to human activities. Current climate trends are bringing extraordinary disruption to ecosystems and the many species that share this planet—including people.
We depend on ecosystems for life: the pollination of our crops, the support of our fisheries, the cleanliness of our water and air—and the integrity of wild areas enjoyed by fishers, hunters, hikers, and boaters. Intact ecosystems build healthy soils, filter water, store carbon, and cycle nutrients. Global environmental changes are overwhelming the ability of ecosystems to protect us with grave consequences for nature and the wellbeing of humanity.
Science-based evidence tells us immediate action is needed to limit rising temperatures to 1.5⁰ C to prevent catastrophic changes caused by climate change. ESA commits to advance the science of ecology that presents solutions for policy makers to mitigate climate change and strategies for practitioners to adapt, especially in vulnerable regions. Ecology shows us that nature-based solutions are important tools for policymakers to consider because they enhance resiliency and sustainability.
As we start the UNCCC COP 26 in Glasgow this year, ESA and its members are committed to the following:
- Pursue ecologically-based strategies to reduce emissions of harmful climate-warming gases
- Advance development of nature-based efforts to enhance ecological resiliency in landscapes faced with climate change impacts
- Focus our expertise to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss and loss of ecosystem connectivity that supports species ability to respond to climate change and other environmental degradation
- Foster the development of ecologically informed policy development
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| Dennis Ojima | Kathleen Weathers | Sharon Collinge |
| President | Immediate Past President | President Elect |
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The Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915, is the world’s largest community of professional ecologists and a trusted source of ecological knowledge, committed to advancing the understanding of life on Earth. The 9,000 member Society publishes five journals and a membership bulletin and broadly shares ecological information through policy, media outreach, and education initiatives. The Society’s Annual Meeting attracts 4,000 attendees and features the most recent advances in ecological science. Visit the ESA website at https://www.esa.org.