How wildlife help combat the climate crisis
New research is transforming the way scientists understand wildlife’s role in the fight against climate change. For decades, animals have been viewed mainly as victims of global warming—species forced to migrate, decline, or disappear as temperatures rise and habitats vanish. But a growing body of evidence now shows that wildlife are not just casualties of the climate crisis; they are powerful regulators of the Earth’s carbon cycle. Protecting them, researchers argue, is one of the most effective and affordable climate strategies available—one that could significantly advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.
In the oceans —the largest carbon sink on the planet —marine animals are quietly performing vital climate work. Great whales, for example, play a crucial role in fertilizing the sea. Through a process known as the “whale pump,” they release nutrient-rich waste—especially iron and nitrogen—into surface waters. These nutrients act as fertilizer for microscopic plants called phytoplankton. In turn, these tiny organisms absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow and photosynthesize. Scientists estimate that phytoplankton are responsible for capturing roughly 40 percent of the world’s total carbon dioxide, a natural service worth trillions of dollars in climate mitigation.
Whales continue to contribute even after death. When they die naturally, their massive bodies sink to the ocean floor, carrying with them the carbon stored in their tissues. This “whale fall” process locks carbon deep in the ocean for centuries, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere. The cumulative effect of millions of years of whale activity has helped sustain the ocean’s capacity to regulate global temperatures.
Smaller marine species play an equally vital role. Sea otters, for instance, shape entire coastal ecosystems through their hunting behavior. By preying on sea urchins, otters keep urchin populations in check—allowing kelp forests to thrive. These dense underwater forests not only provide habitat for countless species but also sequester carbon at a rate comparable to some terrestrial forests. Without otters, sea urchins can strip kelp beds bare, destroying a key carbon sink. This trophic cascade shows how the health of a single predator species can influence the global carbon balance.
On land, the story is much the same. Large mammals, birds, and even insects are crucial to the stability of the planet’s carbon reservoirs. In tropical forests, elephants are known as “forest gardeners.” African forest elephants eat vast quantities of vegetation, selectively feeding on smaller, fast-growing plants and trampling saplings as they move. This behaviour allows larger, slower-growing trees—those that store the most carbon—to dominate the forest canopy. By dispersing seeds across wide distances through their dung, elephants also ensure the regeneration of these carbon-dense forests.
In temperate and boreal regions, predators like wolves play a comparable role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Their presence controls populations of grazers such as deer and elk. Without predators, herbivores overconsume young trees and vegetation, degrading forest health and reducing carbon storage capacity. Reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park, for example, allowed vegetation along rivers to recover dramatically, stabilizing soil and improving water quality—an ecological chain reaction triggered by a single species.
Below ground, countless smaller creatures sustain another massive carbon store: soil. Earthworms, termites, and insects constantly aerate the soil, mix organic matter, and recycle nutrients. These processes help lock carbon underground in stable forms, preventing it from escaping as carbon dioxide. Soil, already the largest terrestrial carbon sink, owes much of its capacity to these unseen engineers.
Healthy ecosystems also provide a defense against the worsening impacts of climate change. Diverse, wildlife-rich environments are more resilient to storms, drought, and fire. Coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove forests and oyster reefs, protect communities from storm surges and rising seas by absorbing wave energy. Their survival depends on the animals that maintain their structure and function—fish, crustaceans, and filter feeders that keep the system balanced.
On land, grazing animals reduce wildfire risk by consuming dry vegetation that would otherwise serve as fuel. Pollinators and seed-dispersing birds sustain plant diversity, helping ecosystems recover from droughts and diseases more effectively. In this way, biodiversity itself acts as a natural insurance policy—a living infrastructure that helps humanity adapt to a rapidly changing climate.
If the world is serious about meeting the Paris targets and keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, it must recognize nature as a partner in the effort. Protecting and restoring wildlife populations is a cost-effective, science-based strategy that delivers both mitigation and adaptation benefits. In short, safeguarding life on Earth may be the most practical way to save our own.
