Triple planetary crisis

The pollution crisis includes various forms of pollution, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil contamination. It is characterized by the release of pollutants and harmful chemicals such as synthetic organic chemicals, plastics, and metals into the environment, impacting both human health and ecosystems. As reported by The Lancet Commission on pollution and health, pollution stands as the leading environmental cause of disease and death. In 2015, an estimated 9 million premature deaths were attributed to illnesses linked to pollution. Furthermore, pollution can impact the ecosystem through albedo reduction, ocean acidification, ozone depletion, and more. == Climate crisis ==

The climate crisis encompasses global warming and climate change, which have resulted from the excessive accumulation of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. It leads to rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events such as extreme precipitation, flooding, extreme heat events, severe storms, drought and more. == Biodiversity loss ==

, an invasive species, on trees in Atlanta, Georgia Biodiversity loss or ecological crisis refers to the significant reduction in the variety and abundance of species in ecosystems worldwide. Anthropogenic activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, and invasive species contribute to this crisis. The consequences of biodiversity loss on ecological processes have as significant of an impact as various other prominent drivers of global environmental change such as climate change, forms of pollution, and more. With up to one million plant and animal species facing the threat of extinction, biodiversity loss hurts an ecosystem's ability to properly function, making it harder for it to maintain a healthy environment. Furthermore, a loss in biodiversity makes it harder for ecosystems to adapt to climate change. With over half the global GDP being dependent on nature and the livelihoods of over 1 billion people worldwide connected to forests, the consequences of biodiversity loss are extensive. == The role of the United Nations ==

The United Nations system, through various agencies and initiatives, work to address the crisis alongside its member states. Currently, these include UN Climate Change, UN Environment, UN Biodiversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which aims to provide aid to refugees displaced by the climate crisis. For further information on consequences of the climate crisis, see effects of climate change. == See also ==