The leading global environmental charity WWF, has recently released its Living Planet Report 2026, which the charity describes as a “comprehensive health check of the natural world”. This detailed report includes a wealth of information to understand why we must act as quick as possible to protect the natural world, and even features research from academics Dr Steve Smith and Dr Tom Powell from the University of Exeter. Dr Steve Smith is a Research Fellow in the University of Exeter’s Green Futures Solutions team, and Dr Tom Powell is a Research Impact Fellow in the Global Systems Institute.
This detailed report includes a wealth of information to understand why we must act as quick as possible to protect the natural world, and even features research from academics Dr Steve Smith and Dr Tom Powell from the University of Exeter.
The Living Planet Report 2026, contains the most wildlife population data ever used in a report. This is significant as it allows accurate representations of how factors such as habitat loss, overexploitation and climate change globally have affected these populations. Monitored vertebrate wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970, with areas in Latin America at extra risk – an area particularly vulnerable to deforestation. Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF-UK, said: “Nature loss is not just a crisis for wildlife. It’s already sending us the bill through growing risks to our food security, water supplies, economy and resilience to climate shocks”.
Monitored vertebrate wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970, with areas in Latin America at extra risk – an area particularly vulnerable to deforestation.
On the positive side, the report did show how nature can recover faster than initially thought. Dr Steve Smith described how populations tigers, green turtles, and bluefin tuna have undergone immense growth, despite previous danger from overhunting and overfishing. He acclaims this to be a result of governments, businesses and the public all pulling in the same direction at once”. Academics Dr Steve Smith and Dr Tom Powell have also investigated ‘positive tipping points’, a section of its own in the report. Positive tipping point refers to when a system crosses a threshold into a healthier state, and the change begins to reinforce itself through feedback loop. One is already underway with renewable energy – as the prices of sustainable choices lower, countries move further away from poisonous fossil fuels. With this success, the WWF report is advocating food to be focused on next. The report reflects that there is a shrinking window in which to help the wildlife, which must be seized through positive increases of food and finance. WWF now demands leaders to make saving nature a priority across the globe, through supporting nature friendly endeavours, and directing investment to sustainable choices.
