Biodiversity
After 20 years, talks on scrapping fishing subsidies enter final stretch
The World Trade Organization is nearing a deal to end harmful fishing subsidies, but exemptions for developing countries could give China a pass
UN draft accord sets out new biodiversity goals but delivery plan is lacking
Experts welcomed the proposed targets to protect and restore nature, but said without funding and national accountability they would achieve little
Biodiversity talks are running out of time for robust deal, says top diplomat
Pandemic delays and gruelling online talks threaten the ambition of a Kunming global pact to protect nature due to be finalised in October
US, UK and Norway launch $1bn initiative to protect tropical forests
The Leaf Coalition aims to mobilise $1 billion of public and private finance this year to cut emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
Pakistan explores debt-for-nature scheme to accelerate its 10 billion tree tsunami
Creditors could grant Pakistan debt relief in exchange for meeting nature restoration targets, under a proposed first-of-its-kind bond
Cop26 dream team: The people setting the climate agenda on seven key issues
From Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen to Malawi’s Nancy Tembo, here are the leaders to watch ahead of UN climate talks in Glasgow, UK
Colombia banks on forest economy to deliver climate ambition leap
Since the end of a 50-year civil war, Colombia has seen a spike in forest clearance, that the government now hopes to reverse with agroforestry initiatives
France and UK lead push for climate finance to restore nature
Campaigners welcomed commitments to ramp up funding for biodiversity but raised concerns it came at the expense of other climate and aid spending
UN summit highlights $700bn funding gap to restore nature
A pledging conference to halt the decline of biodiversity worldwide yielded only a handful of vague financial commitments from European governments
Bolsonaro shifts blame for unprecedented Brazilian wetland fires
In a message to the UN, Brazil’s president denied responsibility for the worst fires on record in the Pantanal, despite having slashed environmental protections
World misses 2020 biodiversity goals: leaked UN draft report
Global Biodiversity Outlook draft finds funding shortfalls and failure to account for the role of women held back progress on restoring ecosystems
Forest destruction spiked in Indonesia during coronavirus lockdown
Travel restrictions allowed illegal deforestation to flourish in Indonesia – and government plans to cut environmental protections raise fears for the future
Malawi’s farmers grow crops with ‘magic liquid’ fertiliser
‘Bionitrate’ made from urine is starting to help yields for farmers in Malawi who face high costs fertilising maize and other crops amid shifting weather patterns
From summits to stimulus: Nature-based solutions can help
Nature-based solutions deserve much deeper consideration as governments decide how to design their economic responses to the coronavirus
Coronavirus delays global efforts for climate and biodiversity action
UN Climate Change said it won’t hold any physical meetings until the end of April amid efforts to contain Covid-19
‘Noah’s Ark’ Arctic seed vault gets new crops, recovers to one million samples
Britain’s Prince Charles, contributing wildflower seeds, says it is ‘exhausting, often demoralising’ to persuade people of vital role of biodiversity
UN biodiversity meeting needs to deliver transformative change, not just targets
The biodiversity talks taking place in China later this year require a legacy that can stand the test of time, rather than a cosmetic victory
Protect 30% of Earth to avert ‘irreversible’ biodiversity loss – former ministers say
Albright among 23 former foreign ministers calling for ‘strong protection’ of animals and plants at UN biodiversity summit, due in China in October
Locusts plague destroys livelihoods in Kenya but ‘biggest threat yet to come’
Wetter and hotter weather than usual is forecast until May, providing locust eggs with ideal conditions to hatch and grow. FAO says it is in a “race against time”
Coronavirus side effect – Climate Weekly
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