Functioning as an introductory guide, the report is designed to frame recent research findings on biodiversity and ecosystem services in an accessible manner. Its goal is to furnish foundational information that facilitates discussions and fosters significant action towards preserving biodiversity.

Following the model of its predecessor, the "Climate 101," this publication delves into the complex interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem services. It highlights the ongoing decline in both biodiversity and ecosystem services, presenting solutions that hold the potential to significantly reverse the trend of biodiversity loss. This educational resource underscores 2150's commitment to addressing environmental challenges through informed and strategic interventions.

Margarita Skarkou, Principal at 2150, “Understanding how humans are affecting nature and reversing the current negative trend is key to solving the climate crisis and improving urban resilience. We can’t afford to neglect the vital role biodiversity has to play in supporting a resilient and adaptable environment, and with clear guidance and frameworks coming out of COP15, the case and path for action is clear.”

Key facts and statistics

• Biodiversity is essential to resilient, adaptable and productive ecosystems, with changes and reductions in biodiversity impacting ecosystem services (i.e. how people can benefit from ecosystems) such as freshwater provisioning, carbon sequestration, air purification, genetic diversity, and climate regulation.
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services are declining. Species are going extinct at 100–1,000x the background rate and various studies suggest we are headed for the sixth mass extinction event. Fourteen of 18 globally analysed ecosystem services have declined over the past 50 years. 
• Roughly 60% of global GDP (or $58 trillion) is dependent on ecosystem services.
• Climate change and biodiversity are inherently interconnected. Increasing warming from 1.5°C to 2.0°C will mean between two and three times more vertebrates, insects and mammals lose at least half of their geographic range. Meanwhile, the land and ocean, and the biodiversity that they contain sequester 23 Gt CO2/year of anthropogenic CO2 emissions while also providing ecosystem services like climate regulation.
• $720-970 billion per year of biodiversity finance is needed by 2030 to halt decline in biodiversity, and close the $600 - 820 billion annual biodiversity funding gap.
• Inaction will cost more than immediate action. Global GDP is expected to drop $2.7 trillion by 2030 under partial ecosystem collapse whilst WEF estimates there is $10.1 trillion in value that can be generated by 15 nature-positive transitions by 2030.

Some good news

The past few years have been pivotal for global action on biodiversity. Countries around the world agreed to halt and reverse nature loss, while new tools and regulations were released to direct nature positive business decisions. Central to this was COP15 – the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in which 196 countries committed to protect and restore 30% of land and oceans and close the $700 billion funding gap.

2150’s Biodiversity 101 report also proposes key solutions to aid companies, financial institutions and policymakers to progress in each area of crisis - cities, infrastructure, and rural areas; land, forests, and agriculture; and oceans, freshwater and fisheries.

2024 will be a critical year for enacting high-level agreements, establishing targets, and initiating action plans to conserve and restore nature. Not doing so will fundamentally threaten human and animal ecosystems, and the economic systems that we all rely on.