At the COP28 UN climate conference in the United Arab Emirates the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed the update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
IUCN’s Red List now lists 157,190 species of which 44,016 are threatened with extinction
The update also includes the first global freshwater fish assessment. Especially the state of the world’s freshwater fish highlights the strong links between the climate change and species declines.
25% of freshwater fish are threatened with extinction
At least 17% of threatened freshwater fish species are affected by climate change
“Freshwater fishes make up more than half of the world’s known fish species, an incomprehensible diversity given that freshwater ecosystems comprise only 1% of aquatic habitat. These diverse species are integral to the ecosystem, and vital to its resilience. This is essential to the billions of people who rely upon freshwater ecosystems, and the millions of people who rely on their fisheries. Ensuring freshwater ecosystems are well managed, remain free-flowing with sufficient water, and good water quality is essential to stop species declines and maintain food security, livelihoods and economies in a climate resilient world,” said Kathy Hughes, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Freshwater Fish Specialist Group.
