Democracy Dies in Darkness

One million species face extinction, U.N. report says. And humans will suffer as a result.

May 6, 2019 at 9:45 a.m. EDT
Scientists on May 6 released a landmark United Nations report on the damage done by modern civilization to the natural world. (Video: Reuters)

One million plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction, with alarming implications for human survival, according to a United Nations report released Monday.

The landmark report by seven lead co-authors from universities across the world goes further than previous studies by directly linking the loss of species to human activity. It also shows how those losses are undermining food and water security, as well as human health.