Agriculture
Leaked UN science report warns of clash between bioenergy and food
Models suggest large areas of land are needed for forests and biofuel crops to halt climate change, but this risks worsening hunger, draft tells policymakers
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
A brutal murder reveals the chaos spreading in Bolsonaro’s Amazon
When Carlos Cabral was killed this month, it seemed history was repeating itself in a corner of the Amazon known for violence. But the real story was more disturbing
New Zealand’s farmers have a chance to be climate leaders
A separate target for methane from sheep and cattle has been painted as a sop to farmers; on the contrary, it puts the onus on the sector to curb warming
Bolsonaro’s plan to unlock the Amazon: split its indigenous peoples
Congress is blocking Brazil’s leader from expanding farming on indigenous lands, now he is making alliances with some traditional landowners
How can the biodiversity and climate crises be tackled together?
The protection of nature is a major weapon against the climate crisis, but it remains on the periphery of diplomacy and finance. That might be changing
New Zealand introduces ‘zero carbon’ bill with concession to farmers
Under a draft law, the country will reduce greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050, except for methane from its large meat and dairy herds
Have hope, humanity is finding ways to defeat climate change
In a new book, Ed Davey finds examples the world can follow to respond to the moral calls from activists Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg
Bolsonaro’s Davos speech promised anguish in indigenous lands
Presenting an acceptable Brazil to global investors, the president failed to mention measures he has taken that are already fuelling violence in indigenous lands
MPs call to expand post-Brexit green programme across whole government
Indications that Britain’s new environmental watchdog will be government-funded raise questions about its independence, the National Audit Office said
Chile issues 2019 wildfire warning amid heat forecasts
As massive fires burn in the centre of Chile, dry, windy predictions for the summer mean 70,000 hectares could be lost, the government warns
Brazil to review Paris Agreement status, says Bolsonaro environment minister
Ricardo de Aquino Salles, a close ally of farming interests, was named as minister on Sunday, he said the conversation about global warming was ‘secondary’
EU should target carbon dioxide removal as part of net-zero emissions strategy
Only an ambitious policy, backed by technologies that remove carbon from the air, can bring the EU in line with the Paris Agreement temperature goals
France aims to ban deforestation imports by 2030
New French strategy puts pressure on Brussels to set an EU-wide action plan to stop agricultural trade destroying forests
US funds with big Amazon farming stakes face Bolsonaro choice
Finance to be ‘very important’ tool if Brazil’s government strips Amazon protections, say researchers
What Europe can do if Bolsonaro attacks the Amazon
Brazilian presidential frontrunner Bolsonaro has pledged to strip environmental protections. The EU can make those decisions hurt
Bill Gates throws new weight and cash into climate fight
In back-to-back events this week, the billionaire launched projects to slow global warming and limit the damage it causes
Modern bioenergy is critical to meeting global climate change goals
It is controversial and often overlooked, but bioenergy is the only renewable energy today that can supply all sectors, say Kimmo Tiilikainen and Fatih Birol
Bolsonaro has made grim threats to the Amazon and its people
Presidential favourite would abolish Brazil’s environment ministry, exposing world’s largest rainforest and its indigenous owners to criminal gangs of loggers and miners
7 surprising things about the carbon footprint of your food
From sandwiches to ‘bleeding’ veggie burgers, we’ve rounded up some of the latest research and innovations for a low-carb(on) diet