Unless nations dramatically improve on carbon cutting pledges made under the 2015 Paris Climate treaty, the planets richest concentrations of animal and plant life will be irreversibly ravaged by , scientists warned.
An analysis of 8,000 published risk assessments for species showed a high danger for extinction in nearly 300 Biodiversity hot spots, on land and in the sea, if temperatures rise three degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, they reported in the journal Biological Conservation.
Earths surface has heated up 1 degree C so far, and the Paris Agreement enjoins nations to cap warming at well below 2 degrees C, and 1.5 degrees C if possible.
National commitments to slash greenhouse gas emissions — assuming they are honoured — would still see temperatures soar well above 3 degrees C by centurys end, if not sooner.
So-called endemic species — Plants and animals found exclusively in a specific area — will be hit hardest in a warming world.
Overall, more than 90% of land-based endemic species, and 95% of marine ones, will be adversely affected if Earth warms another two degrees, the international team of researchers found.