Temperate regions see more climate-driven extinctions than tropics in last 25 years

Contrary to popular belief, temperate regions have experienced more frequent local extinctions driven by climate change in the last 25 years than tropical areas, a new study reveals. Researchers analyzed data from over 40,000 locations, finding that 49% of temperate species faced local extinction threats, compared to 33% of tropical species. This phenomenon was observed across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats. The study, published in the journal Nature, highlights that terrestrial plant species in temperate zones were more than twice as likely to face extinction as their tropical counterparts. Scientists attribute this trend to the accelerated warming in higher-latitude temperate zones, where temperatures have risen by up to 3.3 degrees Celsius, significantly more than the 1.8 degrees Celsius increase in tropical regions. This rapid warming has made temperate species more sensitive to climate shifts. The research also noted that many species, over 70%, were unable to migrate to cooler areas, indicating a limited capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. While the study focused on past events, it underscores the ongoing reality of climate change-induced extinctions.

“

It is easy to think that as the climate warms, species will move to cooler places, but our study found that more than 70% of species could not do so.