The problems of maintaining global biodiversity is so large that they overshadow climate change. Hence, the need for political action, based on solid research basis for ensuring a secure future for the planet. That is the main conclusion from the participating scientists from the University of Copenhagen, after 100 researchers and experts from the EU countries this week has been gathered at the University of Copenhagen to discuss how to organize the UN coming Biodiversity panel IPBES - the equivalent of verdensorganisationenDet faster than ever mass extinction of species and degradation of ecosystems on the planet.

It goes fast. Faster than ever, in terms of mass extinction of species and degradation of ecosystems kloden.100 to 1000 times faster than the natural and normal background rate of extinction of species. Only five times previously in the earth's billion-year history, it has been hit by mass extinctions - the last time 65 million years ago when dinosaurs disappeared. The five times it has partly be attributed to volcanic eruptions, global climate change and 'chemical contamination' of the atmosphere. But this time it's people who are the main cause of the global crisis - primarily through the destruction of habitats and ecosystems. - Biodiversity crisis is probably a greater threat than climate change, in terms of stability, prosperity and future of man on earth. There is need that the research community, politicians and authorities are working closely together in the future if we are to solve this crisis, which threatens the planet more than anything else. Therefore there is every reason to take the UN's future biodiversity panel seriously, when by all accounts will be set up at a meeting in Panama City in April, says Professor Carsten Rahbek, director of the Centre for Macro Biology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen.

Pendant to the UN climate panel

He was one of the ringleaders behind a conference this week on biodiversity and the creation of the new UN nature panel IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). The conference was made in collaboration with the Environment Ministry and took place at the University of Copenhagen, where 100 scientists and experts from preferably EU countries were gathered. The conference comes at a time when Denmark has taken the chair of the EU and thus have the opportunity to put his imprint on the new UN biodiversity panel. The new panel is a counterpart to the UN climate panel IPCC, which has been able to exert its influence politically in the world and has won millions of people and businesses to change their behavior due. Panel analyzes, forecasts and scenarios. Unfortunately, the same is not true in terms of the threat to ecosystems and loss of animal and plant species. - There is need that we have identified future scenarios that people can understand, while we bring together the best researchers in the field. And it is possible. Conference at the University of Copenhagen shows that the myth that university researchers can not and will not contribute to concrete solutions of social problems in close cooperation with authorities and politicians do not fit. Cooperation between the Ministry of Environment, the EU Presidency and the University of Copenhagen is a model example of how universities can contribute to solving some of the greatest social challenges of our time, says Professor Carsten Rahbek. Source: KU