Vanishing Wetlands Put 39Tr In Global Benefits At Risk Report Warns
Guardian2 days
Report: Decline of Global Wetlands Risks $39 Trillion Economic Loss by 2050
Above: Yani National Wetland Park at the convergence of the Yarlung Zangbo River and Nyang River in Nyingchi. Image copyright: Feature China/Future Publishing/Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
This crisis demands immediate global action before we lose irreplaceable natural infrastructure that protects communities from floods and storms. The $39 trillion price tag represents real economic devastation that will hit hardest in developing nations already struggling with climate impacts. Every day of delay makes restoration more expensive and less effective.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The report's astronomical figures seem designed to create panic rather than promote practical solutions, with restoration cost estimates varying wildly from $1,000 to $70,000 per hectare suggesting uncertain methodology. Many countries are already making progress on wetland conservation without massive new spending programs that could burden taxpayers unnecessarily.