The Financial Costs of Biodiversity Loss

The loss of biodiversity is a tragedy for everyone. We often forget that nature provides a plethora of services all for free. A 2012 report indicates that the world's biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s. Humanity is outstripping the Earth's resources by 50 percent — essentially using the resources of one and a half Earths every year, according to the 2012 Living Planet Report, produced by conservation agency the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

As we undermine natural systems we are incurring immense costs. This is the central premise of a BBC News article by Richard Anderson.

Temperature Data: 1880 - 2011 (Video)

Watch a graphic depiction of the earth as it warms over the last 131 years. A concise review of the temperature record from 1800 to 2011 clearly shows the earth is warming.