The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its "2026 Earth Life Report" on October 8, marking the 16th edition of this biennial publication.
According to the WWF, the global wild tiger population has surged by approximately 78%, rising from about 3,200 in 2010 to 5,700 last year. However, tigers remain listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with their current habitat covering only 8% of their historical range.
Additionally, the green sea turtle was downgraded from endangered to least concern on the IUCN Red List last year, becoming the first turtle species to make this transition.
The IUCN Red List categorizes species based on five assessment criteria, including range, habitat degradation, and ecosystem disruption. The categories include extinct (EX), critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU), near threatened (NT), least concern (LC), data deficient (DD), and not evaluated (NE).
The report indicates that a study of 5,790 vertebrate species and 35,803 populations revealed an average decline of 73.2% in wildlife populations compared to 1970 levels as of 2022. This figure does not imply that the total number of wild animals has decreased by 73%, but rather reflects average changes in population sizes observed across various regions. The WWF cautioned against simple comparisons with previous reports due to an increase in the number of species studied.
Among ecosystems, freshwater habitats experienced the most significant decline at 85%. Terrestrial ecosystems saw a 69% decrease, while marine ecosystems faced a 59% reduction. Regionally, Latin America and the Caribbean reported the largest decline at 95%, followed by Africa at 80%, Asia-Pacific at 49%, North America at 28%, and Europe and Central Asia at 23%.
The report identifies three key sectors contributing to biodiversity loss: energy, food (agriculture), and finance. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), energy accounted for 76.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, making it the largest contributor.
The report notes, "Solar power has become the cheapest new source of energy in most countries, with global solar capacity doubling every three years," and highlights a decline in coal usage in many developed nations. It emphasizes the need for changes in food production and consumption methods, as well as in financial systems.
Kirstin Schuijt, WWF's Director General, stated, "The cases of tigers and green sea turtles demonstrate that long-term efforts can restore nature. To expand these successes, we must address the root causes of biodiversity loss through a transformation of industries and systems that contribute to it."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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