Dr Kate Rawles is passionate about using adventurous journeys to help raise awareness and inspire action on our most urgent environmental challenges. A former university lecturer, she now works freelance as a writer, environmental advocate and public speaker. Her most recent ‘Adventure Plus’ journey, The Life Cycle, involved cycling the length of South America on a bamboo bike she built herself. En route she explored biodiversity, and why losing it is as great a threat as climate change. Kate is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of the Adventure Syndicate and an eco-ambassador for the Lake District Foundation. The Life Cycle; 8000 Miles in the Andes by Bamboo Bike (Icon Books 2023) was shortlisted for the Banff Mountain Festival Adventure Travel book and chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of their top ten books about travel in 2023.
TOP TIPS
1. WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
‘Biodiversity’ refers to the astonishing range of living beings and ecological systems with which we share the planet, on land, sea and freshwater. From oak trees to ants; plankton to whales; native forests to peat bogs, the abundance and diversity of life is vital to all life, including human life.
2. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO BIODIVERSITY?
It’s crashing. Average populations of wild animals have fallen 73% since 1970 (WWF Living Planet Report, 2024). A landmark UN report warns that one million species of plants and animals are heading for extinction. As a result, “We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.” (Sir Robert Watson, chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)).
3. CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT THE ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE WE FACE.
Climate change is not the only environmental issue we face. Scientists have identified biodiversity loss as one of the most serious of multiple, interconnected ‘planetary boundary’ issues. We can’t tackle any of them in isolation. (Rockström et al, Stockholm Resilience Centre)
4. GREENWASHING WON’T CUT IT.
Greenwashing won’t cut it. But it’s not too late to make a difference, if we act together, effectively, locally and globally, across all sectors of society, and fast. The changes we need are systemic and transformative, “a fundamental, system-wide reorganization across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values.” (Sir Robert Watson)
5. WE’VE NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE.
We’ve not been here before. There is risk and uncertainty. Viewing this as an adventure can help frame the kind of leadership, mindsets and values we need for a successful transition to a genuinely sustainable future.
6. THE ECOLOGICAL AND CLIMATE EMERGENCIES AFFECT US ALL – AND WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
The ecological and climate emergencies affect us all – and we all have a role to play. The business sector, like all sectors, both relies on healthy ecosystems and flourishing biodiversity, and has immense potential to lead nature-smart, nature-positive change. Exactly what this means will vary according to the nature of your business, but the first step is always shared: commit to finding out where both your dependencies and your opportunities to contribute lie (if you don’t already know.)
7. REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
#1: We’ve learned that nature bounces back faster than we thought, if it is protected going forwards.
#2: We can all do more than we think.
Written by Dr Kate Rawles
If you want to hear more from Dr Kate Rawles she will be speaking at our next event The SHE Show North East, 25th March 2025, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
Please note, the views expressed by the original article author are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent those of Washingtondowling Associates Ltd or The SHE Show and therefore we take no responsibility for the content or accuracy of this post.
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