The flowers for the New Year celebrations in Saigon, Vietnam. ©Manh Ngoc Nguyen/TNC Photo Contest 2021
FEATURED NEWS
Climate targets group trustees seek to calm governance storm
Reuters, Simon Jessop, 12 April
Reuters reports that in a “clarification” to its April 9 statement, the SBTi Board of Trustees said no change had been made to the group’s current standards and that any use of such “environmental attribute certificates” would be “informed by the evidence”. The article also reports that the trustees received a letter of support from a group of non-profits and companies working with communities in the Global South most exposed to climate change, including in Tanzania, Kenya, Peru and Indonesia. BusinessGreen
Climate transition could reduce soybean expansion by up to 36%, study finds
AgFeed, Elaine Cotta, 16 April
AgFeed shares a new report from Orbitas that finds, by 2050, as a result of climate policies and private sector action to keep global warming within 2 degrees of warming. In this scenario, Brazil’s soy sector could see 36 percent of current soy cropland revert back to nature or other be repurposed for other economic activities. This would potentially prevent 1,356 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year in Brazil. The report analyzed the potential financial risks and opportunities climate action like anti-deforestation policies could pose for the sector. While significant risks like lower prices for producers could occur, a 14 percent increase in global demand for soy and 88 percent increase in capital investment in Brazilian agriculture offer new opportunities. Mongabay reports Brazil’s cattle industry could suffer major losses if it does not adjust for new climate policies.
US bets on climate friendly farming; experts doubt it is climate friendly enough
Reuters, Leah Douglas, 11 April
Reuters reviews President Joe Biden’s administration’s efforts to pay farmers money for adopting practices that store carbon in the soil to fight climate change. Interviews with soil science experts and a review of U.S. Department of Agriculture research raise doubts that the approach will be effective. Technology Networks shares a study published in Science estimating that 2,305 billion tons of carbon is stored as soil inorganic carbon, more than five times the carbon found in all of the world’s vegetation combined. This hidden pool of soil carbon could be key to understanding how carbon moves around the globe.
Traceability is no silver bullet for reducing deforestation [Commentary]
Mongabay, Erasmus zu Ermgassen, 12 April
Mongabay carries a commentary that argues new legislation to prevent the trade of deforestation-tied commodities will not end deforestation unless they are backed up by landscape approaches that address the systemic drivers of deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. Bloomberg reports on the growth of palm oil production in Latin America where new, highly traceable supply chains are being established as traditional palm oil giants Malaysia and Indonesia have run out of land for further expansion without deforestation.
Certified timber harvesting of tropical forests proves beneficial for gorillas and elephants
Afrik21, Boris Ngounou, 15 April
Afrik21 covers a new study that finds Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified timber harvesting areas in Gabon and Congo boast a greater abundance of larger mammals, such as leopards, gorillas, and elephants, than non-FSC forests. The results of the study, which lasted five years and involved hundreds of local employees, certified concessions have seen a significant increase in the number of large mammals utilizing camera traps to monitor local biodiversity. Deutsche Welle covers a letter from human rights activists, members of the European Parliament and former political prisoners in Belarus sent to the FSC calling upon the organization to investigate why furniture made in Belarusian jails was able to receive the FSC seal of approval.
SPOTLIGHT – Brazil’s Soy Sector Amidst Climate Transitions
Brazil is the world’s leading producer of soy, but maintaining its competitive advantage depends on adapting to the impacts of climate transitions as the world responds to climate change. Orbitas analyzed the potential impacts of climate action on this critical sector finding material financial risks alongside opportunities to invest in a more sustainable and efficient future for soy production.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
3Degrees shares a playbook offering actionable steps for companies eager to integrate carbon credits into their decarbonization strategies. Drawing from various third-party NGO frameworks and market guidance, the playbook provides a clear and practical roadmap for engaging with the VCM.
Innovation Forum launches a new episode of its weekly food and agriculture podcast exploring the financial risks and opportunities Brazil’s cattle sector faces as climate action increases in intensity.
Carbon Direct and Microsoft release a joint report that provides a set of science-based benchmarks for the development of carbon dioxide removal projects that can be used by stakeholders across the industry to drive just, effective climate action at scale.
GenZero publishes a report exploring potential scenarios for the future of carbon markets, concluding with five key takeaways about carbon markets and three strategic imperatives for carbon market participants.
Youth4Climate launches the 2024 Call for Solutions to support the work of young people and youth-led organizations in five thematic areas: Climate and Environment Literacy, Sustainable Energy, Food and Agriculture, Nature Assets, Sustainable Consumption and Production.
World Resources Institute publishes a report to help consumer-facing food companies with climate and other sustainability goals source not only “less meat” but also “better meat.” The report reviews evidence on the links between meat production, climate change, and other aspects of sustainability, looking across production practices and systems.
Agri Investor announces the winners of its 2023 Global Awards.
Birdlife International, in collaboration with other leading environmental organizations, releases the EU Parliament Scoreboard, finding that only a minority of MEPs during the 2019–2024 mandate acted to protect Europe’s climate, nature and air quality.
UNEP seeks nominations of individuals and organizations working on innovative and sustainable solutions to restore land, enhance drought resilience, and combat desertification for its annual Champions of the Earth award.
WWF announces that it is pioneering the development of a new simplified global Farm Loss Tool with WRAP-UK and Anthesis for farmers, ranchers, and growers of all sizes and food commodity types to easily measure and report their on-farm losses. This tool aims to help farmers and buyers across international lines to communicate what is being left behind in-field and why.
IETA shares its guidelines for high integrity use of carbon credits, outlining how the use of carbon credits should be deployed in parallel with other mitigation levers.
CASE STUDY
N4C is compiling an index of NBS case studies, together with an interactive map, to highlight action on the ground. Each week, we will be choosing a case study to present, to help give concrete examples of work being done to bring NBS theory into practic
Mtwapa Creek Mangrove Planting
WHERE: MTWAPA CREEK, KILIFI, KENYA
TYPE OF NCS SOLUTION: ADAPT
Over 80% of Kenya’s mangrove forests have disappeared. On Mtwapa Creek, near Mombasa, the mangrove forests have been destroyed to provide fuel and income for local communities. A local conservation group is raising seedlings to restore the coastal mangroves. In order to present a new alternative to local communities, beehives are installed in the trees – providing a new income source from the sale of honey. Medicinal honey is in high demand and particularly valuable in the markets.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 98 MtCO2e/yr
The annual carbon dioxide emissions that could be avoided by Indonesia meeting its potential to avoid forest conversion by 2050. Deforestation for oil palm plantations increased for the second year in a row in Indonesia in 2023, ending a decade-long decline in forest loss. See more details on the potential for natural climate solutions in N4C’s naturebase.
GOOD NEWS
A Group of Women Took Switzerland to Court Over Climate Inaction—and Won
Four years ago, a group of women, aged 64 and up, filed a lawsuit before Europe’s top human rights court against Switzerland for violating their rights by not protecting them from the health impacts of climate change. On Tuesday, the court decided in their favor, marking the first time an international court has ruled on governments’ legal obligations regarding climate change. This landmark ruling is the latest in a wave of court cases around the world targeting both governments and businesses to hold them accountable for their role in climate change—and their obligations to address it.
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On Mtwapa Creek, near Mombasa, the mangrove forests have been destroyed to provide fuel and income for local communities. A local conservation group is raising seedlings to restore the coastal mangroves.
Case Study