Nature
‘Nature-based solutions’ prove divisive at Glasgow climate talks
While advocates want to link the climate and biodiversity agendas, critics say nature should not be commodified and human rights safeguards are needed
Xi Jinping announces biodiversity fund to help developing nations protect nature
The Chinese president called on other donor countries to contribute to the $230 million fund for biodiversity at Kunming talks
Conservationists set out ‘nature positive’ vision for global biodiversity deal
The IUCN Congress has come up with a blueprint for a “transformative” deal to protect plants and wildlife, which members hope governments will embrace in Kunming
Conservationists back indigenous peoples’ call to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025
Members of the IUCN Congress overwhelmingly backed the motion but Brazilian experts warn the verdict will likely be ignored by Bolsonaro’s government
Conservation summit opens amid debate over role of indigenous people
A group of human rights NGOs has organised a counter-summit, claiming mainstream conservation measures aren’t respecting indigenous peoples’ rights
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
Germany launches $1 billion biodiversity fund after world misses targets
The Legacy Landscape Fund aims to mobilise public and private finance to support an ambitious nature protection deal at this October’s Kunming summit
Shell’s net zero plan will be judged on science, not spin
Shell’s net zero plan is better seen as a defence of its core oil and gas business, which it is planning to expand, than a genuine energy transition
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
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
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
Green shift urged to revive Brazil’s economy and shield Amazon forests
President Bolsonaro could rebuild the economy faster after Covid-19 by making low-carbon growth a pillar of recovery, international study says
EU plans to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030 for biodiversity
The European Commission set out a strategy to overhaul farming and strictly protect carbon-rich forests and wetlands, to benefit wildlife
Next UN climate science report to consider lessons from coronavirus
UN climate science reports due in 2021 will examine the links between pandemics and human pressures on the natural world to guide policymakers
Postponing major environmental summits is the right thing to do
China and the UK must ensure all nations are involved in planning the delayed summits to protect biodiversity and to raise climate action
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: UN delays talks on global ocean biodiversity treaty
Observers say additional time could help countries agree on rules to create marine protected areas in parts of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdiction