WWF International Review 2016 - 3

IS THIS THE TURNING POINT?
Amid the negative impacts, a new and positive
direction for the planet and our future is
taking root.
© WWF / WWF EARTH HOUR

Against the odds, 2016 was a tremendous year for our planet.
A year in which the pressure on the planet's life support systems
continued to grow but where we also witnessed unprecedented
commitments to take action.
The climate continued to warm, in fact faster than predicted, with
record-breaking temperatures all around the world.

Marco Lambertini
Director General,
WWF International

Climate change was alarmingly visible, with dramatic events
such as the continuing low for Arctic summer ice, the huge new
cracks opening in the Antarctic ice shield, and perhaps most
shocking of all the widespread coral bleaching in the Pacific and
Indian oceans.
Air pollution repeatedly reached red alert status in megacities
like Beijing and Delhi. Even Paris, home to the historic climate
agreement, was blanketed in heavy smog, forcing restrictions on
the circulation of vehicles.
And the problem of ocean plastic emerged from the environmental
shadows - no longer an inconvenient aesthetic problem, it is
recognised as a serious threat to wildlife and, through the food
chain, to people.
2016 was, in many ways, the year that the evidence was
unequivocal about the impact of people and the consequences
on the planet and our own civilisation. Our 2016 Living Planet
Report clearly documented the fast decline of biodiversity as the
ultimate indicator of the state of the planet.
Unprecedented resolve
Perhaps it is the evidence of impact that is beginning to trigger
unprecedented resolve in responding to the threats. Not
surprising. We humans are better at reacting... than preventing.
Although there is still much to do in avoiding the dangers of
climate change, and despite some surging denialism, it was
amazing to see the Paris Agreement come into force even before
its first anniversary and the Marrakesh Climate conference call
for more ambitious emission cuts. WWF will keep up the pressure
to help this extraordinary increase in commitment take root.
There was also good news about investment in renewables,
particularly in the main CO2 emitting countries such as China
and India. This has contributed to flat global energy-related CO2
emissions for a third year in a row amid a background of economic
growth. A very encouraging development.
It was a similar story of hope amid the gloom in the fight to
conserve the planet's wildlife, with a series of massive boosts that
strengthened our resolve.

>

WWF Annual Review 2016 | page 3



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of WWF International Review 2016

Contents
WWF International Review 2016 - Cover1
WWF International Review 2016 - Contents
WWF International Review 2016 - 1
WWF International Review 2016 - 2
WWF International Review 2016 - 3
WWF International Review 2016 - 4
WWF International Review 2016 - 5
WWF International Review 2016 - 6
WWF International Review 2016 - 7
WWF International Review 2016 - 8
WWF International Review 2016 - 9
WWF International Review 2016 - 10
WWF International Review 2016 - 11
WWF International Review 2016 - 12
WWF International Review 2016 - 13
WWF International Review 2016 - 14
WWF International Review 2016 - 15
WWF International Review 2016 - 16
WWF International Review 2016 - 17
WWF International Review 2016 - 18
WWF International Review 2016 - 19
WWF International Review 2016 - 20
WWF International Review 2016 - 21
WWF International Review 2016 - 22
WWF International Review 2016 - 23
WWF International Review 2016 - 24
WWF International Review 2016 - 25
WWF International Review 2016 - 26
WWF International Review 2016 - 27
WWF International Review 2016 - 28
WWF International Review 2016 - 29
WWF International Review 2016 - 30
WWF International Review 2016 - 31
WWF International Review 2016 - 32
WWF International Review 2016 - 33
WWF International Review 2016 - 34
WWF International Review 2016 - 35
WWF International Review 2016 - 36
WWF International Review 2016 - 37
WWF International Review 2016 - 38
WWF International Review 2016 - 39
WWF International Review 2016 - 40
WWF International Review 2016 - 41
WWF International Review 2016 - 42
WWF International Review 2016 - 43
WWF International Review 2016 - 44
WWF International Review 2016 - 45
WWF International Review 2016 - 46
WWF International Review 2016 - 47
WWF International Review 2016 - 48
WWF International Review 2016 - Cover3
WWF International Review 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com