Climate change and extreme events increase extinction risk

Climate change alters temperature, rainfall, ocean conditions, fire regimes and the timing of ecological events. It also increases the severity or likelihood of some extreme events. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Working Group II report documents growing risks to ecosystems and species as warming increases.

Species with small ranges, single remaining sites, narrow physiological tolerances or limited ability to disperse can be especially vulnerable. A single cyclone, drought, flood, marine heatwave or fire can remove a large share of a small population, while gradual shifts can reduce food, breeding habitat or synchrony with ecological partners.

This issue covers climate-driven chronic and acute pressures on threatened animals. Non-climatic habitat conversion and inappropriate local fire management are addressed separately.