FEATURED NEWS
500 companies and banks could stop the destruction of tropical forests. They are failing, report warns
The Independent, Louise Boyle, 26 February
The Independent reports that despite a global pledge in 2014 to achieve zero net deforestation by 2020, a recent assessment by Global Canopy’s Forest 500 project reveals limited progress, with only “pockets of progress” and significant threats to tropical forests persisting after ten years. 30% of the tracked companies lack publicly-available deforestation commitments, and the report emphasizes a “total blind spot” regarding human rights abuses linked to deforestation and land conversion, particularly affecting Indigenous peoples. Edie covers the Forest 500 report and notes that after a decade, 30 finance firms and 39 companies have not published any deforestation commitments or policies, leading Global Canopy to criticize them as “continual laggards” willfully ignoring deforestation risks. Edie also reports on Ceres’ Food Emissions 50 Company Benchmark that finds major North American food companies are falling behind in achieving their net-zero goals. Out of the 50 companies assessed, only five demonstrate a comprehensive business-wide strategy to integrate innovation into plans for emission reduction, and none have aligned future expenditures with their climate goals.
Cerrado can generate US$72 billion per year for GDP with sustainable actions, says World Economic Forum [Article in Portuguese]
Estadão, Beatriz Capirazi, 27 February
Estadão covers a new report from the World Economic Forum that finds a new sustainable economic model of growth that protects and restores nature across the Cerrado savanna biome in Brazil could generate $72 billion per year for the nation’s GDP. The Cerrado is the second largest biome in Latin America and the most biodiverse savanna in the world. Yet it has lost half its native vegetation to agriculture – and conversion is accelerating. BBC shares insights from environmental campaigners in Brazil who point to the nation’s cattle sector as a leading cause for nature loss in the Cerrado. Carbon Pulse covers a study from researchers at the Brazilian Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul that finds the Cerrado could lose over 26 million hectares of natural vegetation by 2050 unless Brazilian laws target large landowners. The study also finds that protecting 30 percent of areas held by big landowners in the Brazilian Cerrado could avoid 13 percent of the expected biodiversity loss in the region by 2070. Grist reviews the role large institutional investors like pension funds play in financing nature loss in the Cerrado.
European parliament votes for watered-down law to restore nature
The Guardian, Ajit Niranjan, 27 February
The Guardian reports that the European Parliament has approved a law aimed at restoring nature that has been diluted compared to former versions following protests from farmers and opposition attempts. The law, a key part of the EU’s green deal, sets a target to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea by the end of the decade, rising to cover all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050; however, the law faced resistance from right-wing parties arguing against it based on perceived burdens on farmers. The Brussels Times covers the Belgium Federal Parliament’s approval of a new Penal Code that includes recognition of the crime of ecocide at both the national and international levels for the first time in Europe. The Guardian publishes a comment piece from a British government environmental official who states that the UK government can never accept that nature or Mother Earth has rights.
Nature technology becoming a key investment priority, study finds
Nature Tech Collective, Daniel Swid, 21 February
Nature Tech Collective interviews Nature4Climate’s Lucy Almond about the N4C’s plans, its work on Nature Tech and highlighted the naturebase tech platform developed by N4C. Environmental Finance covers Nature4Climate’s investor survey of 121 global financial institutions indicating that nature-based solutions (NBS) are likely to evolve into a distinct asset class. Three-quarters of the surveyed investors expressed the importance of nature technology for their investments, with many actively making direct investments in areas like food and agriculture technology, reporting and verification technology, or nature data technology. GreenBiz covers the current state of the Nature Tech sector and the role it will play in addressing climate challenges. The Guardian explores how the use of satellites could aid the world’s efforts to preserve biodiversity through the creation of a new multibillion dollar international scheme that would allow countries to effectively track the health of the planet and safeguard food, water and material supplies for billions of people.
Climate benefits of planting forests might be overestimated
New Scientist, Michael Le Page.
New Scientist reports on a new study that finds reforestation across the world will sequester carbon dioxide, beneficial for tackling climate change, but side-effects, including changes to other greenhouse gases and the reflectivity of the land surface, may limit the full climate benefits of reforestation. Mongabay interviews Peter Ellis of The Nature Conservancy who co-authored a paper that lays out foundational principles of what makes natural climate solutions successful including meeting equity goals, emphasizing the need for practitioners to respect human rights and self-determination of Indigenous peoples, and additionality.
COP28 – NATURE TALKS
At COP28, the Nature Positive Pavilion promoted Nature Talks, a platform where influential speakers and experienced leaders converged to deliver impactful TED-style talks on leading nature for climate action. Diverse experts shared transformative ideas, innovative solutions, and personal insights that inspire change and ignite conversations surrounding the crucial role of nature in addressing climate challenges for people and the planet.
In this talk, we invite you to listen to Concita Sompré Xerente, co-founder of the National Articulation of Indigenous Women Warriors of Ancestrality and president of the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Pará:
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The Biodiversity Accelerator+, the world’s leading capacity-building programme for early stage companies that are creating a biodiversity-positive impact, is accepting applications.
Mongabay is developing a suite of accessible visualization tools designed to empower journalists to create stories backed by accurate data sources. Current offerings, built in partnership with a range of organizations, include:
- Reforestation App: Transparency in tree-planting
- Earth Atlas: Map environmental change at a planetary scale
- Fire Weather Almanac: Fire weather charts
- Trade Flow Map: Supply chain data tool
Conservation International covers a new study finding that bringing wildlife back to grasslands, or at least mimicking the natural processes that keep grasslands in balance, benefits people, biodiversity, and climate.
Ceres releases a new analysis finding that the food sector, which accounts for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, is making measured progress toward aligning with and accelerating the transition to a net zero emissions economy.
Amazonia 2030 publishes a book compiling technical reports from over 80 researchers on social policies, the Amazonian economy, environmental conservation, and more in the Brazilian Amazon.
Amazonia for Life 80% by 2025 asks for signatures on its declaration calling on world leaders to be a part of the solution and take action to avert the tipping point for Amazonia.
Fair Carbon, a Swiss-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s coastal and marine ecosystems, has launched its Blue Carbon Academy. This resource aims to democratize access to blue carbon knowledge and scale up effective coastal and marine restoration by supporting communities worldwide in accessing blue carbon finance.
Oxford releases its updated principles for net-zero aligned carbon offsetting.
Grist calls for nominations for Grist 50, an annual list of climate changemakers across sectors, disciplines, and backgrounds.
Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit publishes a new report finding that the UK’s net zero economy grew 9% in 2023.
Clean Cooking Alliance announces updates to its data platform that will help better identify priorities for energy access interventions, growing its portfolio to eight countries.
WBCSD explains how the emergence strategy, a systems approach to identify new business opportunities and overcome obstacles to system transitions, can be applied to corporate climate action.
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 practice.
Sumatra Merang Peatland Project
WHERE: SOUTH SUMATRA, INDONESIA
TYPE OF NCS SOLUTION: PROTECT
This project protects and restores over 22,000 hectares of peatland rainforest in the Merang biodiversity corridor in South Sumatra, an area disrupted by timber extraction, illegal logging and commercial agriculture. Using innovative impact monitoring technology, the project is improving how restoration work is monitored, managed and verified. In addition, to uplift and empower local villages, the project promotes low-carbon livelihoods programs, such as sustainable fishing production, and supports community development initiatives.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 6.5 MtCO2e/yr
The carbon dioxide emissions that could be mitigated by implementing all known NBS pathways within Guyana by 2050. See more details on the potential for natural climate solutions in N4C’s naturebase.
GOOD NEWS
Not waiting for the government, Myanmar’s Karen people register their own lands
Amid decades-long armed conflict with Myanmar’s central government, Indigenous Karen organizations and leaders are mapping and documenting their ancestral lands in a self-determination effort — without seeking government approval. Locals receive land title certificates that provide security to villagers, giving a sense of inheritance rights and protection against land-grabs from the government, megaprojects and extractive industries. They use geographic information systems (GIS), computer tools and systems to interpret, document and agree on lands and forest data. Participatory methods with local communities and supporting organizations have been used to map more than 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million acres) of land, which includes reserved forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
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The Sumatra Merang Peatland Project protects and restores over 22,000 hectares of peatland rainforest in the Merang biodiversity corridor in South Sumatra, an area disrupted by timber extraction, illegal logging and commercial agriculture.
Case Study