Humans have started to hold their own convenience on a higher pedestal than the need to survive, in some cases. Every single creature on this planet works together in one chain. Each time a species goes extinct, other animals that relied on that creature for food or other resources end up at risk of extinction. Humans are not the only ones at fault for extinction, however. Natural causes include invasive species diminishing resources, or struggle to adapt to the climate.
Los Angeles, California has been rated the “…number 1 worst for ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas,” according to the American Lung Association, who have been analyzing air quality data from official air quality monitors all over the world for 26 years.
This means that ground-level ozone rates are higher, which is an extremely bad thing, as it can not only harm humans, but sensitive vegetation, if not full ecosystems. Ecosystems that humans rely on to survive. The less biodiversity we have, the less likely society is to survive or live healthily.
Even though humans are not the only ones at fault, they do leave the largest impact. With their contributions to extinction including over-harvesting resources, invasive species, and pollution. The most prominent of these causes is deforestation to make room for concrete jungles.
In Brazil, a four-lane highway is being cut through the Amazon Rainforest.
“The Amazon Rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating the climate, absorbing vast amounts of carbon and supporting unparalleled biodiversity,” according to World Animal Protection, a foundation centered around stopping the exploitation of animals and transforming food systems.
The project was proposed back in 2012 to help ease traffic for more than 50,000 attendees, but has been heavily criticized by communities in the surrounding areas and conservationists. The addition of this road will destroy housing for thousands, if not millions of plants and animals and kill many others in the path. After the continued criticism, the project was officially begun in March of 2025, being described by government officials as a “sustainable highway.”
There is no consistent rate for extinction each year, as it is truly a statistic that depends on human and climate action. Some years are worse than others, even some days are worse than others. Between the years of 2012 and 2022, nearly 500 species of animals had gone extinct.
“Many ecologists believe we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction,” said Yale Environment 360, an online newspaper forum published at the Yale School of the Environment.
The Natural History Museum defines a mass extinction as an event where “…multiple species vanish much faster than they are replaced. This is usually defined as about 75% of the world’s species being lost in a short period of geological time – less than 2.8 million years.”
In the far East of Russia, a rare species of leopard called the Amur Leopard, is struggling to survive due to a scarcity of prey. This is a more natural occurrence, but poaching is a larger threat to them. People still hunt them for their beautiful coats. As of 1999, they could be sold for anywhere from $500 to $1000 in the civilizations nearby.
However, with all of the animal species that go extinct each year, plants are going extinct too. Part of this is due to the fact that roughly 40% of all land had been converted for food production. Another factor of this is that plants are being forced to adapt to new conditions due to an increase in temperature worldwide or face extinction.
“The rate by which plants are going extinct is at an all-time high across the globe,” according to Climate Change Resources. “Since 1900, nearly 3 species of seed-bearing plants have disappeared per year – 500 times faster than they would naturally.”
The mindset that one person making a change doesn’t matter, is the issue. The more people that use that as an excuse, the farther society will dig into a pit they can’t climb out of. So, with all of this negativity going on when looking at the climate crisis, one thing that remains constant is the need to stop over consumption. Big corporations are to blame.
“To protect the climate, buy fewer things, shop second-hand, and repair what you can,” the United Nations recommends. “Plastic alone generated 1.8 billion carbon tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 – 3.4 per cent of the global total,” said the United Nations.
On top of this, be aware of what you are spending your money on. Certain things leave more of an impact than others, but everything has an impact.
“You have the power to choose which goods and services you support. To reduce your environmental impact, choose products from companies who use resources responsibly and are committed to cutting their gas emissions and waste,” said the United Nations. “If you have money that is being invested for you, through a pension fund for instance, it may be supporting fossil fuels or deforestation. Making sure your savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.”
Updated: 12 January, 2026
