The koala is one of the world’s species most at risk from the effects of climate change, according to a new report by  a leading environment group.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has said the koala along with the Arctic Fox and the Leatherback Turtle as among those expected to be most affected by global warming. The review by the IUCN, named “Species and Climate Change,” also lists the Beluga Whale, Clownfish, Emperor Penguin, Quiver Tree, Ringed Seal, salmon and staghorn corals, as being at great risk.

Released to coincide with key climate talks being held in Copenhagen, report co-author Wendy Foden said the study underlined that the result hinging on the conference meant more than just the effect on humans.

“Humans are not the only ones whose fate is at stake here in Copenhagen – some of our favourite species are also taking the fall for our CO2 emissions,” she said in a IUCN statement. “This report should act as a wake-up call to governments to make real commitments to cut CO2 emissions if we are to avoid a drastically changed natural world. We simply don’t have the time for drawn-out political wrangling. We need strong commitments and we need them now.”

The report said that koalas were:”…particularly vulnerable to the effects of elevated CO2 levels on plant nutritional quality, as they rely on them for food. The potential impacts of these changes on the world’s food chains are enormous.”

With koalas needing to consume over 500 grams of eucalyptus leaves per day to survive, the decline in nutritional quality of the leaves due to climate change will have severe consequences on the long-term survival of the species, the report added.

Speaking to the ABC, Wildlife Queensland spokesman Simon Baltais said immediate action was required as koala stocks have already been reduced significantly.

“The koala in general in south-east Queensland in a period of ten years has gone from common, to vulnerable to almost extinction and it’s continuing to go that way and this is from the government’s own scientific reports,” he said.

By Rich Bowden

Source: theAngle Australasian/Pacific News Coverage

Net News Publisher for World News