Nathan Roberts, of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China, who coordinated the article, said the consensus\u2019s endorsement marked a turning point.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe endorsement of the Scientific Consensus on Wildlife and Climate by over 350 global scientists marked a huge step in the collective recognition of the role of wild animals in ecosystem functioning and the need to better incorporate wildlife in nature-based climate solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecuring this peer-reviewed article in Global Change Biology now raises further international awareness in the science and policy space of the importance of wildlife in more holistic and effective climate action. With COP31 just a few months away, it is encouraging to see the acceptance, openness, and new conversations being had in this area, and as we continue to advance the science, we look forward to seeing how countries carry this forward in their climate actions, plans, and dialogues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ed Goodall, Climate Policy Specialist at the World Federation for Animals, said the science demands a rethink of how animals are viewed within the climate system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWildlife have been viewed for too long as passive participants in the Earth system and victims of a changing climate. However, science is showing us that it is the complex web of interactions, driven in large part by animals, that has provided us with the habitable home we share today. Losing animals and the roles they play is not unrelated to the dysregulation of our planet, and by removing threats and returning land and ocean to them will increase resilience and help drive more carbon into ecosystems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt Collis, Senior Director of Policy at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), said the findings should reshape how governments approach climate strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate policy has largely overlooked a powerful ally in tackling climate change\u2014wild animals. This growing body of science shows that protecting wildlife isn\u2019t only about preventing species loss, it\u2019s also about keeping the ecosystems we depend on healthy, resilient, and storing carbon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith COP31 approaching, governments have an opportunity to turn that science into action. Wildlife and the ecological roles animals play should be recognised in climate strategies, from national climate plans to investments in nature-based solutions. Protecting and restoring wildlife populations can deliver benefits for animals, people, biodiversity, and our climate, and that makes it an opportunity we cannot afford to ignore.\u201d<\/p>\n