The new WWF Living Planet Report 2026 shows just how much global biodiversity has changed in recent decades. Many animal populations are declining, and natural habitats are under pressure. At the same time, the report documents that targeted conservation measures can be effective.
What do these developments mean for our daily lives and for the fashion industry? We summarize the key findings and explain the role played by materials, textile production, and conscious consumption.
WWF Living Planet Report 2026: Key Figures
Between 1970 and 2022, the vertebrate populations studied declined by an average of 73 percent worldwide. This is shown by the latest Living Planet Index (LPI), which is based on data from 35,803 populations across 5,790 animal species.
Freshwater habitats have been particularly hard hit. Here, the report records an average decline of 85 percent. Among the terrestrial animal populations studied, the decline is 69 percent, and for marine animals, 59 percent.
It is important to put these figures in the right context: The numbers do not mean that 73 percent of all wildlife has disappeared or that a corresponding number of animal species have gone extinct. The index describes the average relative change in the animal populations surveyed.
Nevertheless, the results show just how much pressure natural ecosystems are under.
Why Biodiversity Is Declining Worldwide
The causes of biodiversity loss are manifold. Among the
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