OECD warns: Fight the climate crisis, species extinction and environmental pollution together!

OECD warns: Fight the climate crisis, species extinction and environmental pollution together!

A new report from the OECD, published on December 2, 2025, puts a finger on the wound: The major environmental crises of our time - climate change, species loss and pollution - are closely related and require active action on a global level. The report, entitled “Environmental Outlook on the Triple Planetary Crisis,” urgently points out that current approaches are not effective enough in many countries. Current policies are often organized according to sector logics, which leads to conflicting objectives and inefficient investments. The OECD therefore calls on governments around the world to pursue a coordinated approach to address the challenges inherent in nature together, rather than looking at them in isolation, as is often the case in the UN conventions.

Current research shows that humans have changed around 75% of the land surface and 66% of the ocean areas. This has devastating effects on biodiversity; According to reports, 80% of naturally occurring mammals and 50% of plants have been lost. Species loss and climate change reinforce each other and threaten the livelihoods of many species, including humans. According to an article on Tagesschau.de, more species are currently threatened with extinction than ever before in human history. The causes for this lie in the intensive use and destruction of natural ecosystems caused by agriculture, fishing and industry as well as man-made climate change.

Using synergies: The path to integrated solutions

To bring about this paradigm shift, the OECD report suggests six key actions:

• Stärkung der Forschung zu Schnittstellen zwischen Klimawandel, Biodiversität und Umweltverschmutzung.
• Eine engere Verzahnung nationaler Strategien in übergeordneten Plänen.
• Neuorientierung der Finanzierungsstrukturen, um mehrere Umweltziele gleichzeitig zu unterstützen.
• Gestaltung der Energiewende naturverträglich und ressourcenschonend.
• Stärkung der Kreislaufwirtschaft und nachhaltiger Ressourcennutzung.
• Tiefgreifende Veränderungen im Ernährungssystem, um Klima, Ökosysteme und Verschmutzung aktiv zu beeinflussen.

The understanding that conflicts between different political goals are often an expression of a lack of integration must be anchored. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann highlights the challenges posed by political uncertainty and pressure on global growth prospects. It is crucial to make progress on environmental goals to protect not only our lives, but also those of future generations.

A rethink is required

On a broader level, the role of nature in climate protection also becomes clear in the discussion. Nature is not only affected, it plays an active role by absorbing CO2 emissions. Any measure to combat climate change should also include the protection and restoration of ecosystems. Climate change has been described as an “all-encompassing threat” for years, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported on the serious consequences for ecosystems and human development. Emissions from land use and agriculture contribute up to 30% of greenhouse gases worldwide, which further highlights the need for action.

A global network of protected areas connecting semi-natural wilderness should be part of a long-term strategy. In particular, the urgency of clearing land for renaturation and organic farming and of integrating indigenous societies into global conservation management cannot be neglected. Indigenous peoples have valuable knowledge and experience that are essential for a harmonious coexistence between people and nature. This perspective is not only important for climate protection, but also for preserving biodiversity and creating habitats.

The OECD calls for a rethink towards a designed society in which both people and nature have the freedom and opportunity to develop. To achieve this goal, international cooperation and awareness of the interdependence of species and climatic conditions are necessary. The challenges that lie ahead are complex, but not insoluble. An integrative, multidimensional approach could be the key to a sustainable future.

With a clear call to action, the OECD emphasizes that the success of these commitments will be a matter of political will and global solidarity. The time to act is now.