Land

UN summit highlights $700bn funding gap to restore nature

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

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

Encouraged by Bolsonaro, land grabbers advance on Amazon indigenous territory

Encouraged by Bolsonaro, land grabbers advance on Amazon indigenous territory

Illegal settlements are springing up on indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon, driving deforestation

World misses 2020 biodiversity goals: leaked UN draft report

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

African ministers call for investment in Great Green Wall to aid Covid-19 recovery

African ministers call for investment in Great Green Wall to aid Covid-19 recovery

Plans for an 8,000km green belt across the Sahel region have stalled, with fresh funds needed to halt desertification and create sustainable livelihoods

'Solidarity economy': Indigenous women run WhatsApp food swap in Costa Rica

‘Solidarity economy’: Indigenous women run WhatsApp food swap in Costa Rica

The Cabécar community is combining traditional customs and modern technology to cope with pandemic and climate change pressures on food security

UN fund pays Indonesia for forest protection as deforestation rises

UN fund pays Indonesia for forest protection as deforestation rises

Campaigners accuse the Green Climate Fund of letting governments game the UN’s Redd+ forest protection scheme, as Indonesia is awarded $103 million

Forest destruction spiked in Indonesia during coronavirus lockdown

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

Land

Agriculture

Green shift urged to revive Brazil's economy and shield Amazon forests

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

Jamaica becomes first Caribbean nation to submit tougher climate plan to UN

Jamaica becomes first Caribbean nation to submit tougher climate plan to UN

Jamaica adds forestry and land use to updated climate plan and toughens goals for energy. UK, due to host UN talks, hails “greater climate ambition”

Now is the time to climate-and-pandemic-proof our food systems

Now is the time to climate-and-pandemic-proof our food systems

Social safety nets and shorter supply chains are essential to protect smallholder farmers facing spiralling debt and bankruptcy

EU plans to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030 for biodiversity

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

Shorter supply chains needed to end hunger after pandemic: UN envoy

Shorter supply chains needed to end hunger after pandemic: UN envoy

The coronavirus crisis has heightened inequities of food availability and nutrition. A 2021 Food System Summit aims to boost resilience and sustainability

No silver lining to coronavirus, but a golden opportunity

No silver lining to coronavirus, but a golden opportunity

Rebuilding after the pandemic should be a moment to reset international governance, deepen global cooperation and restructure societies away from fossil fuels

One crisis at a time, please - Climate Weekly

One crisis at a time, please – Climate Weekly

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Malawi’s farmers grow crops with 'magic liquid' fertiliser

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

Agriculture

Forests

Amazon land grabbers are destroying brazil nut groves for cattle pasture

Amazon land grabbers are destroying brazil nut groves for cattle pasture

Emboldened by a promised amnesty on land seizures, cattle ranchers are felling brazil nut trees, edging out families who have harvested them for generations

The Amazon home of Bolsonaro's mineral fantasy

The Amazon home of Bolsonaro’s mineral fantasy

Indigenous inhabitants of the region with the largest deposits of niobium in the world claim the right to decide what is done with the metal

EU must not sacrifice the Amazon rainforest on the altar of trade with Brazil

EU must not sacrifice the Amazon rainforest on the altar of trade with Brazil

As Brazil’s second-biggest trade partner, the EU should condemn President Bolsonaro’s assault on environmental protections and indigenous rights

Amazon faces 'perfect storm' of forest clearance, coronavirus and wildfire

Amazon faces ‘perfect storm’ of forest clearance, coronavirus and wildfire

President Jair Bolsonaro’s opening up of the Brazilian rainforest to logging and mining makes its people vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts warn

Next UN climate science report to consider lessons from coronavirus

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

The second death of Chico Mendes

The second death of Chico Mendes

Rubber tappers burn an Amazon forest reserve in Brazil to clear land to raise cattle – deforestation has increased under President Jair Bolsonaro

Carbon taxes are key to stop deforestation

Carbon taxes are key to stop deforestation

In Colombia and Costa Rica, where governments have imposed carbon taxes, deforestation rates are down, while revenues to fund forest restoration efforts are up

Coronavirus side effect – Climate Weekly

Coronavirus side effect – Climate Weekly

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Forests

Cities

It will take more than a few cycle lanes to make green, pandemic-proof cities

It will take more than a few cycle lanes to make green, pandemic-proof cities

The coronavirus lockdown gave a glimpse of what cleaner cities can look like, but as people turn to private cars for safety from infection, pollution could soar

Addis Ababa riverside project gives priority to development over residents

Addis Ababa riverside project gives priority to development over residents

Ethiopia wants $900 million riverside project to be a model of green development – yet one resident says shelters were demolished ‘without warning’

Car boom brings gridlock misery to 'green and happy' Bhutan

Car boom brings gridlock misery to ‘green and happy’ Bhutan

Bhutan’s growing economy brings growing gridlock – and a potential threat to the country’s vaunted carbon-negative status

Two million in Zimbabwe's capital have no water as city turns off taps

Two million in Zimbabwe’s capital have no water as city turns off taps

‘The situation is bad, period’, says spokesman for Harare council, as suburbs go weeks without water and cases of typhoid are reported

Trains deliver emergency water to drought-hit Chennai

Trains deliver emergency water to drought-hit Chennai

Millions of people are experiencing water shortages as Chennai’s reservoirs are running dry and other sources of water are dwindling

EU 'climate leaders' plans found lacking

EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking

Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details

New York City bans inefficient glass skyscrapers, WA state to end coal

New York City bans inefficient glass skyscrapers, WA state to end coal

New York mayor announces sweeping climate change programme, while Washington’s power will be carbon-neutral by 2030

Life adapts to Louisiana's disappearing coast

Life adapts to Louisiana’s disappearing coast

South Louisiana is experiencing the effects of coastal erosion faster than almost anywhere in the world, but life adapts through the buildings and architecture

Cities