Soil productivity, fisheries and forests have declined, coupled by access to fresh water, the Alliance of World Scientists (AWS) has warned.

The AWS is made of 15 000 scientists from 184 countries committed to providing a science-based perspective on issues affecting the well-being of people and the planet. In a communique, the AWS said the devastating effects of climate change are worsening.

“Humanity has failed to make sufficient progress to solve predictable environmental challenges. Soon it will be too late to shift course,” they said, adding that the world is hemorrhaging human and economic potential due to a lack of sufficient progress to curtail various environmental threats.

Global average temperatures have risen by more than 0.5ºCelsius, and annual carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 62%.This has had exacerbated air and water pollution, the collapse of fisheries, loss of soil productivity, deforestation and species loss.

The human population also grew by 2 billion, while the populations of other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined by nearly 30%.