Can we reach a happy medium between preserving biodiversity, tackling climate change and growing as

On the surface, it may not seem like much of an issue - surely, taking steps to lower the impact of climate change in turn helps to protect the biodiversity and future of our planet. Every year, well known plants and animals are wiped off the face of the earth by the impact of climate change, alongside species which we as humans have not even discovered - and so it would seem obvious that any moves to lower our carbon emissions would have a positive effect on the globe's biodiversity.

However, in an article for the Guardian, special advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme's Green Economy Initiative and top banker with Deutsche Bank Pavan Sukhdev highlighted the delicate balance which needs to be achieved and how the issue may not be as black and white as it first appears.

Sukhdev noted that over the years, he has got used to having to explain to people what biodiversity is and how its protection is not just vital to the natural world, but the world of economy and commerce too. He said that most reactions range from "incredulity to incomprehension" when biodiversity is mentioned in terms of economic worth.

However, biodiversity is "the living fabric" of our world, he said, and is vital to its continuing existence. Biodiversity is defined by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity as including ecosystems, species and genes, the article said.

"Both ecologists and economists point out an important "quantity" dimension to these three levels: ecosystems are recognised by their extent as well as their category; species can be described in terms of abundance as well as their diversity; and genes are useful because of their population as well as their variability. All of this is biodiversity," it further explained.

And while tackling the loss of biodiversity through climate change initiatives may seem simple, Sukhdev pointed out the potential minefield that is ensuring the best for both causes, as well ensuring the health and growth of the economy of many nations.

He said while there are strong links between lowering climate change levels and preserving the precious biodiversity that our planet boasts, there are "potential conflicts" which need to be avoided.

Examples of this include schemes to try and absorb carbon from the atmosphere - but such ideas could see diverse grasslands replaced with "vast plantations of exotic tree species", put in place to soak up the CO2, he warned.

Another likelihood could be that peat swamps in tropical rainforest locations are replaced with palm oil works, in order to produce biofuel which can be used instead of traditional fossil fuels.

In short, some schemes aimed at helping our planet and tackling climate change could be helping one part of the planet - and damaging another beyond all repair.

According to Sukhdev, it is a top priority for policy makers to ensure that the right balance is struck between the two causes. He noted that it is essential that climate change and biodiversity loss are seen "within the same mechanism" in order to properly tackle both.

In the ongoing battle against climate change and its impact, a problem which has been highlighted again and again are the potential issues for developing nations which could be caused by emission limiting measures and schemes.

While nations such as the US and UK, already heavily developed, may not be impacted by this, countries still in the stages of becoming important industrial heartlands, including Brazil and China, could suffer badly if they are forced to drastically cut down on the emissions thrown out by their fastest growing sectors.

However, both these nations have so far done well in embracing green economy models, it is pointed out, a move which could give them an edge over some other nations in the battle against global warming.

The article noted that in China, some 40 million homes are heated with warmth from solar heaters. Brazil is home to its own eco city, Curitiba, which is a model of how to live in a sustainable way.

India donates to millions of its poorest inhabitants, who live rurally, to encourage reforestation and the use of water harvesting measures and in Uganda, organic agriculture helps to provide food without ravaging the land and ruining its usefulness for growing in the future.

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