The Climate-Biodiversity Nexus Reviewed: Navigating Tipping Points, Science-Based Targets & Nature-Based Solutions
Abstract:
This paper offers a comprehensive assessment of the “climate-biodiversity nexus” and the latest research. It also covers real-world developments. It delves into synergies and trade-offs between climate action and biodiversity protection, as well as the role of nature-based solutions (NBS) in addressing both crises. It highlights how biodiversity degradation reduces ecosystems' capacity to store carbon, intensifying climate change, while climate change accelerates biodiversity loss by pushing species beyond survival thresholds. The paper underscores the need for an integrated approach to biodiversity and climate. It uses examples like the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the tipping point’s implications for ecosystems and species. It also reviews recent European Union policies and initiatives, such as the European Green Deal, which aim to balance climate mitigation with biodiversity conservation. Additionally, the paper examines corporate initiatives, such as Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN), which integrate biodiversity into sustainability strategies.
