Climate change occurs due to increased greenhouse gas emissions which cause the Earth’s temperature to increase. This phenomenon has a significant impact on various ecosystems, including biodiversity. Biodiversity, which includes variations in genes, species, and ecosystems, is essential for environmental sustainability. First, climate change disrupts natural habitats. For example, increasing temperatures cause shifts in biogeographic regions. Species that cannot adapt or move to new locations risk extinction. In tropical climates, rising temperatures could accelerate the loss of tropical forests, which are home to half of the world’s flora and fauna species. Second, changes in rainfall patterns also affect biodiversity. Some regions are experiencing prolonged drought, while others are facing flooding. As a result, species that depend on certain conditions to survive, such as endemic plants and animals, become threatened. For example, amphibian species that are sensitive to changes in humidity are very susceptible to population decline. Third, seasonal shifts due to climate change affect species life cycles. For example, many plants flower early, which is out of sync with animal recovery or migration times. This can result in disruptions in predator-prey relationships as well as pollination processes, threatening the survival of interdependent species. Fourth, invasive species are increasingly dominating ecosystems stressed by climate change. With a higher ability to adapt to extreme conditions, these species can take over the resources needed by local species, thereby accelerating the decline in biodiversity. Fifth, the impact on the sea cannot be ignored. Global warming causes an increase in sea temperatures and acidification which affects coral reef ecosystems. Coral, which is a habitat for many fish species, is threatened with death due to bleaching, which results in losses for coastal communities that depend on fish for their livelihoods. In addition, loss of biodiversity also affects ecosystem service systems, which include food provision, carbon sequestration, and maintenance of water quality. With reduced biodiversity, the balance of the ecosystem is disturbed which has a direct impact on human welfare. Engineering solutions to combat the impacts of climate change and maintain biodiversity is critical. Habitat protection and conservation strategies, along with reducing carbon emissions, must be a priority to address this challenge. Awareness of the impact of climate change on biodiversity must be increased so that collective action can be taken. Continuous research and monitoring of ecosystem conditions is needed to understand the changes that occur and find effective ways of adaptation. The benefits of investing in biodiversity conservation will not only be felt by other species, but also by humanity in the future.
