By Rasheeda Hamidu
About one-third of land animal habitats could be exposed to multiple extreme climate events by 2085 if global warming continues, according to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
The study, led by researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and released on April 24, 2026, found that 36 per cent of species’ current habitats could face overlapping events such as heatwaves, wildfires and floods.
Lead author Stefanie Heinicke said the risks posed by extreme weather events are often underestimated in conservation planning.
“Climate change, and in particular extreme events, are still really being underestimated,” she said.
The study showed that a single extreme event can severely affect wildlife, but consecutive or overlapping events can compound damage to species and ecosystems.
Using climate impact models, researchers projected that by 2050, about 74 per cent of land habitats could be exposed to heatwaves, 16 per cent to wildfires, 8 per cent to droughts and 3 per cent to floods under high-emission scenarios.
The findings also identified biodiversity hotspots, including parts of Africa, the Amazon basin and Southeast Asia, as areas likely to face increasing exposure to multiple climate hazards.
However, the study noted that rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could significantly limit the impact, reducing exposure to multiple extreme events to about 9 per cent of habitats by 2085.
The research is based on analysis of nearly 34,000 terrestrial vertebrate species, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
The study highlights growing concerns over the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
Climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem resilience remain central issues in environmental reporting, including coverage by NatureNews.
