Life on earth

More than one fifth of the Earth's total land area was degraded from 2000-2015, largely due to human-induced processes such as desertification, cropland expansion and urbanization. Ocean acidification (caused by the uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the ocean) has increased more than 25 percent since pre-industrial times (based on observations over 30 years), and is expected to reach 100-150 percent by the end of the century. These critical threats to the health of both forests and oceans endanger the lives of billions of people, both directly (for those who depend on oceans and forests for livelihoods) and indirectly through impact on global climate change. These threats also endanger the existence of ecosystems and wildlife around the world. Corporations must play a central role in addressing these threats, including through use of forest and ocean resources in internal operations and across supply chains (such as agricultural practices), efforts to reduce carbon intensity and GHG emissions and drive adoption of alternative fuels, and participation in international efforts to address deforestation and ocean pollution