Whale and Dolphin Migrations are Being Disrupted by Climate Change – Inside Climate News

Climate Change Impacts on Migratory Species: A Threat to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

A recent report from the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, developed from a workshop of over 70 scientists, highlights the severe impact of climate change on migratory species. The findings indicate that climate-induced disruptions to migration patterns and habitats pose a significant threat to global biodiversity and the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2.0 Key Findings and Implications for Global Goals

The report presents alarming data on the vulnerability of migratory species, which are essential for ecosystem health and stability.

• Universal Impact: Nearly all monitored migratory species are affected by rising temperatures, extreme weather, and ecosystem shifts.
• Extinction Risk: Over 20 percent of the more than 1,000 species monitored by the convention are approaching extinction, directly undermining targets within SDG 15.
• Disruption of Cues: Climate change is scrambling finely tuned environmental signals and memory cues that have guided migration journeys for millennia, a direct challenge to the resilience of natural systems promoted by the SDGs.

3.0 Impacts on Marine Ecosystems and SDG 14: Life Below Water

The degradation of marine environments has profound consequences for aquatic migratory species and the sustainability of ocean resources.

1. Whale Migrations: The traditional migration routes of large filter-feeding whales, including humpback, fin, and blue whales, are being altered as climate change disrupts the environmental signals guiding their travel between breeding and feeding grounds.
2. Habitat Loss for Marine Herbivores: The disappearance of seagrass meadows, a critical food source for migrating sea turtles and dugongs, is accelerating due to warmer waters, cyclones, and sea-level rise.
3. Ecosystem Service Degradation: Approximately 30 percent of the world’s known seagrass beds have been lost. This loss not only threatens dependent species but also compromises vital ecosystem services that support the SDGs, including oceanic carbon storage (SDG 13) and the viability of coastal fisheries (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).

4.0 Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems and SDG 15: Life on Land

On land, climate change is reshaping habitats and forcing species to alter their behavior, leading to new challenges for conservation and human communities.

1. Human-Wildlife Conflict: Intensifying droughts are driving Asian elephants to higher ground and into closer proximity with human settlements in their search for food and water. This trend fuels human-elephant conflicts, creating challenges for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15.
2. Disrupted Breeding Cycles: Migratory shorebirds are arriving at their Arctic breeding grounds out of sync with the seasonal insect blooms their offspring require for survival. This temporal mismatch threatens population viability and jeopardizes Arctic biodiversity.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article’s central theme is the impact of climate change on migratory species. It explicitly states that “climate change is ‘scrambling these signals'” for migrating whales and that “Almost no migratory species is untouched by climate change.” It mentions specific climate impacts like rising temperatures, extreme weather (droughts, cyclones), and sea level rise as the primary drivers of the problems discussed.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  A significant portion of the article focuses on marine life. It discusses the disruption of migration for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and dugongs. It also highlights the degradation of marine ecosystems, specifically the loss of “seagrass meadows that migrating sea turtles and dugongs feed on,” which are disappearing due to warmer waters and cyclones.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article extends its analysis to terrestrial and avian species. It mentions that Asian elephants are being driven to higher ground due to droughts and that shorebirds are reaching their Arctic breeding grounds out of sync with their food sources. This directly addresses the threats to biodiversity and ecosystems on land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions the “United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals” convening a workshop and publishing a report, which represents an international effort to understand and address climate impacts, a crucial step for informing policy.
• Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article’s focus on the disappearance of seagrass meadows due to warmer waters and cyclones directly relates to the need to protect these vital coastal ecosystems.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article directly supports this target by stating that “More than 20 percent of these species are on the brink of extinction” and describing the disruption of critical habitats for elephants and shorebirds.
  • Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products. While not directly about poaching, the mention of “fueling more frequent human-elephant conflicts” as elephants move closer to human settlements relates to the broader challenge of protecting wildlife from human-induced threats.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 14, Target 14.2:
  • The article provides a specific quantitative indicator: “around 30 percent of the world’s known seagrass beds have been lost.” This directly measures the degradation of a key coastal ecosystem.
• For SDG 15, Target 15.5:
  • A clear indicator of biodiversity loss is mentioned: “More than 20 percent of these species [monitored by the convention] are on the brink of extinction.” This serves as a direct measure of the threat level to migratory species.
• For SDG 13 (Implied Indicators):
  • The article implies several indicators of climate change by mentioning its effects: “rising temperatures, extreme weather, and shifting ecosystems.” These are phenomena that are tracked to measure the progress and impact of climate action. The increase in “human-elephant conflicts” due to drought can also be seen as an indirect indicator of climate change’s social and ecological impacts.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: arstechnica.com