Climate change and ecosystem sustainability

Abstract

Our natural environment is in crisis globally and in Africa. Ecosystems (both terrestrial and aquatic) and biodiversity are all being degraded rapidly under the present global economic system which treats the environment as an ‘externality’ negative impacts on the environment are not included in economic valuation. This is unsustainable development by any definition. Many practical questions remain concerning how economic, social and cultural transformation will be achieved in practice, and how already degraded ecosystems can be conserved and restored to fulfil critical roles in both mitigation and adaptation. Biodiversity loss, climate change and land and marine degradation are four problems linked by common solutions; it is essential to treat them in a coherent and integrated manner using ecosystem approaches such as the Large Marine Ecosystem Approach being applied in the Canary, Guinea, Benguela and Agulhas LMEs.