How Climate Change Is Leaving Some Species with ‘Nowhere Left to Go’

Many animals and plants have adapted to climate change by moving around. A new book by science journalist Benjamin von Brackel states that many species are on the verge of extinction because of the recent burning of fossil fuels. The front line of ocean dwellers is moving at a rate of 45 miles per decade, while land-dwelling animals are moving at a rate of 17 kilometers per decade. The Edith's checkerspot butterfly and the Scots pine are some of the plants and animals that are moving to higher altitudes. They all run out of places to escape the heat.

He wrote Nowhere Left to Go: How Climate Change Is Driving Species to the ends of the Earth. Massive migrations spurred by global warming have arisen from this question. As old species leave and new ones arrive, the research into how the environment might change as a result is discussed in the book.

von Brackel spoke with Scientific American about what science says we can expect from having so many species on the move and how we might help some survive in the face of climate change.

The transcript of the interview has been changed.

The idea for this book came from somewhere.

The mention of cod moving hundreds of kilometers north in the North Sea came up when I was reading about ocean acidification. I had to repeat the sentence a second time. If the cod is doing this, maybe other fish species are doing this, too, and maybe other land-dwelling creatures as well. I saw a living wave rolling over the planet. This could be huge. When I found out that this is happening and nobody knows about the extent of it, I had to immerse myself in it.

What happens to animals that can't move?

The species that can't move or conquer new places has a high risk of extinction. Many species can move in one direction. There are new ranges for species in Europe and North America. The issue is in the tropics. The first species to become extinct in the tropics are at the top of the mountains so they can't move. It isn't a good end.

The book talks about how pests and animals can cause health problems. There are some potential threats.

It is one of the issues we should be most concerned about. The Asian tiger mosquito can spread diseases. The insect is taking over parts of the US and Europe. The first time they came from Asia was in the 1980s and the second time was in the 1990s. Two weeks ago, I was in Italy, and I wondered what all the mosquitoes were doing to me. I was able to see the white stripes on it. I clobbered a lot of them because they were Asian tiger mosquitoes.

The economic impacts of mass migrations are unknown.

There are many. The Scots pine and European spruce are the two most important tree species for timber production in Germany because of climate change. They go up the mountains and then they go down the mountain. According to models, 20 to 60 percent of the forest land will only be suitable for Mediterranean oak forest types by the year 2200.

There may be species that leave a cultural loss as they move away.

The people most affected by species shifts are Indigenous people because they live close to nature and rely on animals and plants. The Inupiat in Alaska hunt bowhead whales and have circled their culture around them. The bowhead whales migrate farther north. It is a big problem for the Inupiat. They can't easily adapt by choosing a different species as their main one.

I wonder if there is a similar situation in Japan. You mention in the book that central kelp and the fish species found in the forest are to Japanese culture and cuisine.

The kelp forests are important for the Japanese as a food resource but also for their culture. They do everything they can to protect them, but they can't stop it. The coral species that follow the kelp forests are good for coral reefs. I like that sort of thing.

Some of the most at-risk species are moving so maybe they won't go extinct.

The main message in the book is that species are able to adapt to climate change. This is good. The last 2.6 million years of the ice age saw many times when species had to respond to climate warming. There were not a lot of species that went extinct. They were able to do this. This is very positive.

What is new about this day in time?

We are the thing that is different. Half the surface of Earth has been occupied by us with agricultural land and cities. We criss-crossed the land with streets and canals. It's difficult for many species to respond to climate change.

What can we do to help the species adapt to the changing climate?

Curbing emissions is the most obvious thing to do. species don't have a chance if climate change and emissions aren't stopped We can do many other things on the way to this. We have to give species the room to respond to climate change and to create enough conservancies where they can thrive and to connect them with enough wildlife corridors. Around 50 percent of Earth is recommended to be protected by some scientists. Nations are about to make a decision about how much land to protect at the United Nations. This will be an important first step, and it's a real possibility. One has to ask, "Okay, where are the conserve areas built?" and " will this be implemented?" after that.

Is it possible for individual people to not grow lawns?

People who have a garden can help species to create a stepping-stone so that they can move to higher latitudes. A lawn isn't very useful. There are many gardens in Berlin that are paved or full of gravel. If you have a hedge instead of a fence, you can have fruit trees and berry bushes where bumblebees and honeybees can thrive. A lot can be done with the garden.