While climate change is hugely important and demands our attention, we seem to be forgetting about another major issue: biodiversity loss. While the COP29 climate change conference attracts the attention of the media and politicians, the COP16 conference on biodiversity has gone largely unnoticed. As many as 80% countries have not even submitted plans to achieve the goals of the UN Biodiversity Agreement.

However, the consequences of biodiversity loss are dire. Since 1970, the wildlife population has declined by 73%. Many species have already become extinct and others are on the verge of extinction. Nevertheless, it seems that the world's attention is mainly focused on climate change.

This trend is also reflected in British politics. While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced strong public pressure to attend the COP27 climate change conference, he sent only a "natural science envoy" to the COP16 biodiversity conference. The media also devotes much more space to the climate crisis than to the loss of biodiversity.

Although these two problems are linked, and solving one helps to solve the other, completely ignoring biodiversity is dangerous.

Furthermore, focusing solely on climate change can be counterproductive. While climate change data is important, its abstract nature may not be enough to motivate people to change their behavior. More emotionally compelling stories about the human and animal sacrifices of climate change and biodiversity loss could be more effective. An example of a successful species conservation campaign is "Save the Whales", whose success was partly due to the use of a charismatic whale as a symbol.

In order to save the planet, it is necessary to pay attention to both crises - climate change and biodiversity loss. We need a comprehensive approach that takes into account all aspects of the environment and is communicated in a way that appeals to the general public. (Co2AI)