A new scientific consensus backed by over 300 researchers argues that wild animals play a direct role in regulating the climate by shaping how ecosystems store carbon, cycle nutrients, and recover from disturbances. The commentary, published by Mongabay and republished by The Good Men Project, points out that climate policy usually focuses on technology and infrastructure while ignoring the ecological functions of animals. For example, elephants disperse seeds that influence forest growth, bison affect grassland carbon cycling, and marine species like zooplankton and fish transport carbon into the deep ocean through daily migrations. The article cites a 2023 Nature Climate Change paper estimating that protecting and restoring wild animal populations could increase carbon dioxide uptake by an additional 6.41 gigatons per year. The new Scientific Consensus on Wildlife and Climate, endorsed by over 300 scientists, calls for governments to account for wildlife when designing climate strategies, conservation plans, and nature based solutions. This is a concrete argument for expanding the scope of climate policy beyond technology and infrastructure to include the ecological roles animals play in carbon cycles.
