COP29: Climate promises, but what about endangered wildlife?

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), currently taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, is focusing on massive funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect human populations from the effects of climate change. However, discussions on biodiversity, particularly the protection of endangered wildlife, remain on the fringes of the agenda.

Yet the situation is critical. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than one in three species, whether terrestrial, marine, or aquatic, is threatened with extinction. African elephants, for example, have seen their population decline by 78% to 81% in some areas such as Gabon's Minkébé National Park, primarily due to poaching and habitat destruction. Currently, there are fewer than 400,000 elephants left on the African continent.

Sea turtles are not immune. Between 1990 and 2018, their population declined by 57% due to accidental fishing, poaching, loss of nesting beaches, and the effects of climate change. Amazonian pink dolphins are also under increasing pressure, with their population declining by 65% ​​between 1994 and 2016, mainly due to pollution and habitat fragmentation.

Corals, essential to marine biodiversity, are also in grave danger. Half of all reef-building coral species are now threatened with extinction due to ocean warming. These organisms, vital to ocean health, lose their symbiosis with microalgae when they overheat, a process that leads to their bleaching and rapid death.

Trees are now among the most endangered species. More than 47,000 tree species are on the IUCN Red List, 35% of which are classified as critically endangered. This situation has a direct impact on the balance of ecosystems, as trees play a central role in regulating the climate and maintaining life cycles on Earth.

Despite these alarming findings, conservation efforts are bearing fruit in some regions. In Gabon and Congo, well-managed protected areas have helped stabilize the elephant population. In southern Africa, anti-poaching efforts and improved land-use planning are also showing encouraging results.

Yet these initiatives remain insufficient in the face of the scale of the threats. COP29 provides an ideal platform to integrate stronger measures to protect wildlife. A review of environmental policies, targeted funding, and increased crackdowns on wildlife trafficking, as proposed by the EAGLE network, are essential to ensure the survival of these species.

Biodiversity is a pillar of climate resilience and planetary health. Neglecting the endangered species crisis undermines global efforts to combat climate change. It is urgent that decision-makers make clear and ambitious commitments to preserve wildlife, in synergy with climate action.

Djamiou ABOUDOU