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The threat of extinction looms large over a diverse array of species worldwide, with flowering plants facing the most significant risk. In 2024, of the 46,337 species listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, over 58 percent were flowering plants. Threatened species and organisms are those that are vulnerable to being endangered in the future.

Biodiversity under pressure

The endangerment of species extends far beyond flowering plants. In 2024, approximately 11,400 out of 63,700 known vertebrate species were at risk of extinction. Additionally, over six thousand invertebrates and 300 fungi and protists were also endangered worldwide. The number of endangered species on the Red List in 2024 was roughly a fourfold increase compared to the beginning of the century.

Climate change amplifies extinction risk

Global warming is exacerbating the threat to biodiversity. It is forecast that with just a 1.5-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures, about 14 percent of terrestrial species face a high risk of extinction. If warming reaches three degrees Celsius, the share of species at high risk across forests and land areas is expected to double. Current projections put the average global temperature increase at 2.1 degrees Celsius by 2100 for a scenario where all climate pledges and targets are reached.