Grand Challenges in Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Grand Challenges in Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences

  • Presenters: Dr. Eoin Lettice, Dr. Ed Jarvis, Dr. Tom Doyle

Current State of the Planet

  • Overview of Environmental Issues:

    • "Most people can now see that our planet is literally and metaphorically burning" - This refers to numerous environmental crises.

    • Key Indicators of the Crisis:

      • Massive wildfires

      • Record temperatures

      • Sustained high heat events and droughts

      • Record floods

      • Intensified tropical storms

      • High threat to species

      • Declines in large mammals and insects

      • Overfishing

      • Invasive species

      • Infectious diseases

    • Consequences of Environmental Changes:

      • Tipping points have been crossed, such as sea level rise and Arctic sea ice loss.

      • Restoration of these conditions may take a millennium or more.

      • Climate change is a primary symptom of exceeding planetary boundaries (Barnard et al., 2021).

Concept of Planetary Boundaries

  • Definition:

    • Planetary boundaries refer to environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate, as defined by scientific parameters.

  • Key Aspects:

    • The nine planetary boundaries highlight thresholds for critical Earth-system processes.

Insights on Crossing Planetary Boundaries

  • Risks of Transgressing Boundaries:

    • Steffen et al. (2015) noted that crossing boundaries increases the risk of driving Earth into a less hospitable state, jeopardizing poverty alleviation efforts and overall human wellbeing.

Historical Context

  • Background on Research:

    • The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published its 7th Report in 2019, finding five key drivers of change affecting biodiversity:

      • Land and sea use

      • Direct exploitation

      • Climate change

      • Pollution

      • Invasive species

    • IPBES is akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) but has a focus on biodiversity.

Media Coverage Post-IPBES Release

  • UN reports highlighted the crisis:

    • "One million animal, plant species face extinction"

    • Human impact on nature threatens societal well-being akin to climate change (Robert Watson, 2019).

    • Urgency for transformative changes in how humanity interacts with the natural world is emphasized.

Educational Module Overview

  • Structure of the Next 10 Weeks:

    • Lecture Topics Include:

      • Week 1: Introduction to the module, Importance of Biodiversity, Risks of Loss

      • Week 2: Water Crisis, Mass Extinctions in Deep Time

      • Week 3: CacaoWiRe Project, Direct Exploitation of Energy Resources

      • Week 4: Changes in Land & Sea Use

      • Week 5: Climate Change Perspectives

      • Week 6: Soil Biodiversity and Climate Mitigation

      • Week 7: Infectious Disease Threats

      • Week 8: Pollution in Lakes

Biodiversity Crisis Details

  • Current Global Extinction Risks:

    • Data from the IUCN Red List indicates significant threats to various species groups.

    • Key Statistics:

      • Total Extant Assessed Species: 2,390

      • Threatened Species Total: 5,593

      • Vulnerable: 2,872

      • Endangered: 1,091

      • Critically Endangered: 845

      • Extinct in the Wild: 607

    • Example Demonstrated:

      • The percentage of threatened species across groups varies, depicting a concerning trend.

Interactions Between Climate Change, People, and Nature

  • Impacts of Climate Change:

    • Direct impacts include increased temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise.

    • Interactions exacerbate the loss of biodiversity.

  • Drivers of Climate Change:

    • Human activities include burning fossil fuels, land-use change, and degradation of ecosystems.

    • Nature's Role:

      • Natural systems regulate climate; for example, ice and snow reflect sunlight, while oceans sequester CO₂.

Implications for Food Security

  • Definition of Food Security:

    • Reliable access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious food for a healthy life (NRHA, Australia).

  • Current Challenges:

    • Global trends reflect the addition of approximately six million people monthly to the world population and a concerning figure of 733 million undernourished individuals globally as of 2024.

    • Underlying Causes: Population growth vs. diminishing natural resources and ecological health.

Statistical Insights

  • Global Hunger Trends:

    • Visual representation of hunger prevalence shows a sharp rise from 2019-2021 and persisting issues into 2023, with numerous statistics detailing the undernourished populations over the years.

Upcoming Events

  • Field Trip:

    • Field trip to Fota Wildlife Park scheduled for March 4th or 5th.

  • Workshops:

    • Environmental Science Workshop details to be announced.

    • "How Plants Can Save the World" - a session showcasing various plant science research aimed at tackling Grand Challenges, happening on March 11th from 2-5 PM.