Researchers Highlight Vast Gaps in Studies on Climate, Biodiversity, and Disease Links

Researchers Highlight Vast Gaps in Studies on Climate, Biodiversity, and Disease Links
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 05, 2024

A recent scientific review by the University of British Columbia's Biodiversity Research Centre reveals a startling scarcity of research into the interconnectedness of three significant global challenges: the threat of species extinction, pandemic-induced fatalities, and escalating global temperatures. Despite the urgency underscored by the United Nations, which warns of the risk to one million species, along with the health and climate crises, studies probing the links among these threats remain exceedingly rare.

Dr. Jonathan Davies, leading the research initiative, expressed surprise at the findings. "While initiating our research, we anticipated a limited number of studies but did not foresee such a stark absence," he remarked. The study, featured in The Lancet Planetary Health, highlights a critical oversight in the scientific community's understanding of the crises' interconnected dynamics.

The team's analysis of over 1.8 million studies from the past decade found a mere 128 investigations into the interplay between infectious diseases, biodiversity depletion, and climate change, despite tens of thousands of studies examining pairs of these issues. Notably, research on the mechanisms intertwining all three areas is scarce and often narrowly focuses on infectious diseases in amphibians, forest health, and Lyme disease.

Dr. Davies points to human malaria as a key instance of an emergent crisis exacerbated by these overlapping threats, with climate change altering mosquito behavior in unpredictable ways. The study calls for an integrated approach to research and policy-making to uncover synergistic solutions that address all three crises without unintended negative outcomes.

Dr. Alaina Pfenning-Butterworth, part of the research team, stresses the importance of seeking holistic solutions. She cautions against actions like mass tree planting without considering potential downsides, such as biodiversity loss and heightened disease susceptibility in monoculture forests.

The research underscores the necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists from diverse fields to forge comprehensive strategies for a healthier and more sustainable planet. "The consensus among scientists is clear: continuing our current practices is untenable. We're approaching a planetary boundary that, once crossed, may be irreversible. This is our chance to reshape our future," Dr. Davies concluded, emphasizing the urgency of concerted global action.

Research Report:Interconnecting global threats: Climate change, Biodiversity loss, and infectious disease