Living Planet Report 2026

Why in News?

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s Living Planet Report 2026, the average size of monitored wildlife populations declined by 73% over a 52-year period. The report highlights the growing threats to biodiversity and emphasises that transformative changes in food, energy and finance systems could help reverse nature loss.

About the Living Planet Report

The Living Planet Report assesses global biodiversity trends and identifies major pressures on wildlife and ecosystems. Habitat loss and degradation are the most frequently reported threats to monitored wildlife populations, followed by overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species and disease.

According to the report, the average decline in monitored wildlife population sizes varies across ecosystems. Freshwater populations recorded the largest decline at 85%, followed by terrestrial populations at 69% and marine populations at 59%.

About the Living Planet Index (LPI)

The Living Planet Index (LPI), produced by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), measures changes in the relative abundance of monitored vertebrate wildlife populations across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems.

The index incorporates 35,803 population trends covering 5,790 vertebrate species from 1970 to 2022. It is an indicator of changes in monitored wildlife populations and should not be interpreted as meaning that 73% of all individual wild animals have disappeared.

The LPI was adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as an indicator for assessing progress towards its 2011–2020 biodiversity targets. It is also used as an indicator under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Major Drivers of Biodiversity Loss

The report identifies three major systems driving nature loss. The global food system is a leading driver of habitat destruction and accounts for approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. The energy system contributes to climate change, while financial flows continue to support activities that can damage ecosystems.

The report highlights the potential for positive tipping points—changes that accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices. Transformations in food production, clean energy and finance could help reduce environmental pressures and support the recovery of wildlife populations.

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)