The European Federation of Aquatic Sciences chaired by Antonio Camacho, Professor of Ecology at the University of Valencia, has raised an alarm about climate change and has called for a drastic reduction in global greenhouse emissions. The entity, with almost 5,000 scientists, has participated in the preparation of a manifesto coordinated by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) in which it warns that, without rapid and significant action, the consequences would be disastrous for ecosystems and aquatic resources.
In the declaration released this Monday, it is called for drastically reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of human-caused climate change on aquatic ecosystems and ecosystem services, which benefit humanity. Unless urgent measures are taken to reduce emissions, scientists predict catastrophic impacts on these ecosystems and their services to humanity, on human health and on the global economy.
The Manifesto, Statement of World Aquatic Scientific Societies on the Need to Take Urgent Action Against Human-Caused Climate Change, Based on Scientific Evidence warns that the world’s aquatic resources are now under the greatest threat in the history of mankind. In the case of inland aquatic ecosystems, a measure of biodiversity, the planetary index of life for species populations decreased by 83% between 1970 and 2014, while, as an example for marine ones, it is predicted that up to 90% of coral reefs will disappear by mid-century if current trends continue.
For this manifesto, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) coordinated forces with 110 scientific societies related to the study of aquatic sciences, representing more than 80,000 scientists from around the world. The European Federation for Freshwater Sciences (EFFS) includes, among others, the Iberian Association of Limnology.
Manifesto in Spanish here.
Manifesto in English here.
