The signs of environmental distress are all around us: altered ocean currents, desiccated farmlands, inundated coastal communities and melting glaciers. These are but the surface manifestations of a much deeper crisis. While the global pandemic of 2020 did raise consciousness about environmental issues (Kachaner et al., 2020), public awareness still lags significantly behind the rapid pace of biodiversity loss worldwide. In the eyes of nature, we appear as inhuman monsters. The persistence of biodiversity decline is driven by climate change and the relentless exploitation of the natural environment. These twin threats jeopardise not only the animal kingdom but also our own species. However, they are challenges that can be overcome through biodiversity restoration and sustainable innovations. It is no longer a distant threat but an urgent crisis demanding our immediate attention.

Climate change, unlike past adversities such as famines, wars and terrorism, poses a unique threat. It disrupts biodiversity at multiple levels including population dynamics, community structure, species distribution and ecological functioning. As we continue to burn fossil fuels, the impending catastrophe becomes even clearer. Over 75% of the world’s coral reefs, the invaluable treasures of coastal ecosystems face imminent threat due to human-induced environmental changes (The Royal Society, 2019). Simultaneously, the overexploitation of natural resources exceeds their biocapacity, setting us on a perilous path. Currently, we consume 20% more natural resources each year than can be replenished, a number that continues to rise (WWF, 2022). The WWF warns that by 2050, it would take 2.5 Earths of resources to satisfy the demands of future generations, primarily driven by the ever-expanding human population. The rapid advancement of technology has made it easier to disrupt the delicate balance of biodiversity. Research reveals that the United States and high-income European Union nations are the primary culprits of global excess resource consumption that exceeds environmental sustainability standards (Dockrill, 2022). Jason Hickle, an economic anthropologist, insists that these nations must lead in resource reduction efforts, necessitating transformative post-growth and degrowth approaches.