Biodiversity
Lula revives $1 billion Amazon Fund and environmental protections
On his first day in office as Brazil’s president, Lula da Silva signed a package of seven executive orders to protect the environment
Cop15 global nature deal passes despite DR Congo’s objection
The Chinese presidency gavelled through a biodiversity pact in Montreal, overriding the funding concerns of some African delegates
Lula charms UN climate summit, bringing hope for rainforests
Brazil’s president-elect got a hero’s welcome at Cop27, where he met with climate envoys from the US and China
World leaders not invited to attend critical UN biodiversity summit
Tense relations between the Chinese presidency and host nation Canada put a “Paris Agreement for nature” further out of reach
‘We are not ready’: Divisions deepen over rush to finalise deep sea mining rules
A growing number of countries are backing calls for a moratorium on mining the oceans’ floor but the UN body responsible is pushing to greenlight the industry in 2023
Between a wolf and its food: as one deep sea miner flops, others eye the prize
The Metals Company is running out of money, but the regulator is still fast-tracking rules to mine the ocean while other prospectors wait in the wings
Campaigners call on António Guterres to rescue ‘imperilled’ biodiversity deal
With five months to the critical summit, a “Paris Agreement for nature” is floundering as finance and political leadership fall short
Tanzanian authorities seen opening fire on Maasai people in game reserve dispute
Rights NGO Survival International has accused the government of “shocking violence” and evicting Maasai people from their land to make way for trophy hunting
Modi’s ‘gamechanger’ palm oil push raises concerns for Indian forests and women
Prime minister Narendra Modi has big plans for palm oil cultivation. But the experience of farmers in Mizoram does not bode well
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
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