A week after the UK declared a climate emergency, a new report on the decline of the natural world and species extinction issued by the United Nations in Paris (May 6) – the most broad-ranging assessment of its kind – has sent a dire message about our effects on the world and the steps we are taking to reverse them.

“Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history,” begins a summary of the 1,500 page report, which will be published in full this year: “and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely.”

A collaboration between 455 authors from all over the world, it places the number of plant and animal species threatened with extinction (many within decades) at around 1 million. That’s more than we’ve ever seen in human history.

The report is also the first of its scale to measure “the five direct drivers of change in nature with the largest relative global impacts”, giving a picture of the most harmful contributors. These are (in order): changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species.

Climate change, however, is singled out in the report for its impact, and there is a suggestion that it might surpass other drivers in decades to come. The current numbers are definitely troubling as it is: since 1980 greenhouse gas emissions have doubled, and global temperatures have risen by at least 0.7 degrees, affecting areas from ecosystems down to genetics.

As for what we’re doing to fight natural decline already, the report says it’s simply not enough. Apparently we’re only going to reach significant change – or even our goals for 2030 – through “transformative changes across economic, social, political and technological factors”.

“It is not too late to make a difference,” says Sir Robert Watson, chair of the IPBES, who provided the assessment. “But only if we start now at every level from local to global.”

“The member States of IPBES Plenary have now acknowledged that, by its very nature, transformative change can expect opposition from those with interests vested in the status quo, but also that such opposition can be overcome for the broader public good.”

This is where groups such as Extinction Rebellion and voices such as Greta Thunberg’s come in. They have already proven that they can encourage leaders to reconsider their interests (often through economically-damaging protests, which are looking more and more like an absolute necessity if we want the people in power to start paying attention).

That’s why it’s an absolute imperative that we listen to these activists and support them however we individually can. This is a priority.