Climate Change and Biodiversity Destruction:
The Greatest Challenges of Our Time
We are living through two interconnected emergencies: the Climate Crisis and the Biodiversity Crisis. Increased CO₂ levels in our atmosphere are destabilizing our planet’s climate, while the destruction of ecosystems weakens nature’s ability to protect us.
Extreme weather events caused by climate change are already costing the world billions of dollars annually, and taking lives.
Extreme climate events, storms, floods and droughts will undermine even more agriculture and security worldwide.
The Climate Emergency
Climate Change:
A deadly threat for future generations
If we don’t act adequately to reduce CO₂ emissions now and in the near future, in 100 years many major population centres like London, New York and Shanghai may be under water, with a 2m (6.5 ft) sea level rise.
Huge numbers of climate refugees will be seeking refuge in other countries and territories.
The Biodiversity Crisis
The Attack on Nature
While the planet warms, ecosystems are collapsing. Species are disappearing at record rates, and tropical forests — biodiversity hotspots
— are under siege from deforestation and fires.
Biodiversity and climate are inseparable: without healthy ecosystems, we lose one of our best defenses against climate change.
The Biodiversity Crisis
The Paris Agreement: Recognition of the Challenge
In 2025 195 countries + the European Union have signed up to the Paris agreement, which seeks to hold global temperatures at a 1.5 ℃ increase.
This agreement aims to control climate change by:
Emission reduction targets
Renewable energy expansion
Adaptation measures for climate impacts.
The Investment Gap
Inadequate focus on forest
CO₂ loss
2.2 trillion dollars were spent in 2024 on providing new green energy sources. This compares to global fossil fuel CO₂ emissions that were estimated at 37.4 gigatonnes.
In 2024 CO₂ emissions due to forest loss totalled 4.1 gigatons of CO₂, that is, 11% of fossil fuel emissions. Total spend on forest protection in 2024 reached $25.8 billion dollars. (However, as little as 10 percent of this may have been delivered to forest conservation.)
The actual amount of money being spent on forest protection is wholly inadequate.
That is an investment of 58.8 USD per tonne of fossil fuel carbon dioxide emitted.
That is an investment of $6.3 USD per tonne of forest carbon dioxide emitted
Potential for Improvement
Inadequate focus on forest
CO₂ loss
Forests around the world vary in quality and density according to how well they are being cared for and where they are located.
Forests that are part of the best managed nature reserves actually increase in carbon density, even if they are mature.
The potential for using forests as a positive tool for attacking climate change is huge.(How LCI Responds)
How LCI Responds
A Smarter Path to Conservation
The Landscape Care Initiative offers an alternative: direct funding for conservation through Landscape Care Units.
Transparent
90% of funds go to the ground.
Measurable
Satellite and scientific data track carbon and biodiversity impact.
Scalable
A model that can be applied across reserves worldwide.
The resource: born in the forest
Explore Our RESOURCE Base
Our Deeper Analysis section provides PDFs, data files, and background materials for those who want to understand the science behind LCI. Topics include:
Sea-level rise and climate risk
Global energy investment in green solutions
Tropical forest loss and carbon emissions
Carbon credit market assessments
FAQS
What are the biggest environmental challenges today?
The world faces two interconnected emergencies: the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Rising greenhouse gas emissions are driving global warming, while deforestation and species loss weaken ecosystems. Together, these crises threaten food security, human health, and global stability. Protecting forests is one of the most effective solutions.
Why are tropical forests important for fighting climate change?
Tropical forests store more than 200 tons of CO₂ per hectare of mature forest and can add 5–10 tons annually through reforestation. They act as natural carbon banks, protect biodiversity, and regulate climate. Without them, global warming would accelerate dramatically, making their protection critical for the planet’s future.
How are climate change and biodiversity loss connected?
Climate change and biodiversity loss are closely linked. As the planet warms, ecosystems collapse, reducing their ability to absorb carbon. At the same time, deforestation and species loss accelerate climate change by releasing carbon. Healthy ecosystems are essential for stabilizing the climate and protecting life on Earth.
How much investment goes into protecting forests?
$25.8 billion was invested in carbon credits to protect forests in 2024. But only between 10 and 30 percent of that money will have been paid to the field conservationists who protect the forests. This is wholly inadequate when compared to the 4.1 gigatons of CO₂ emitted globally through forest loss.
Why are carbon credits not enough to save forests?
The carbon credit market often directs most funds to intermediaries, not the reserves themselves. Many credits exclude reforestation projects and don’t provide stable income for conservation. As a result, forests remain vulnerable. Alternatives like Landscape Care Units aim to deliver funding directly to on-the-ground conservation efforts.
What is the Landscape Care Initiative’s approach to climate and nature?
The Landscape Care Initiative (LCI) offers a transparent, measurable, and direct funding model for conservation. Through Landscape Care Units, 90% of donations go directly to reserves, supporting biodiversity and carbon storage. This ensures donors make a real impact on climate change while helping ecosystems and communities thrive.