Biodiversity
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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UN relocates biodiversity talks to Italy from China after coronavirus emergency
Rome will host next month’s biodiversity meeting, when negotiators are due to review a draft proposal for a global framework to protect the world’s plants and wildlife
Locusts lay eggs as plague worsens in Horn of Africa, UN warns
The FAO has called for ‘urgent efforts’ to prevent the number of locusts from growing over fears of new swarms
UN biodiversity meeting in China under review following coronavirus outbreak
UN agencies and the Chinese government are holding consultations to decide whether next month’s meeting can go ahead as planned
Indigenous lands, protected areas limit Amazon’s carbon emissions
Greater international support for indigenous land rights and livelihoods is a cost-effective way to limit climate change, PNAS study
UN outlines 2030 goals to save planet’s biodiversity
The draft plan will be used as the basis of negotiations at a meeting in Kunming, China, where governments are to agree on global rules to protect life on Earth
UN biodiversity chief quits. Documents show she had been accused of misconduct
Cristiana Pașca Palmer resigned before key summit, she faced allegations of discrimination against African staff and intervention in the renewal of her contract
Meat and potatoes: international media majors on diet in IPCC coverage
Reporting on latest science around climate change and land use focused on rich nations’ eating habits, but did it miss the bigger picture?
IPCC: Urgent action needed to tackle hunger alongside climate crisis
In a special report, the UN’s climate science panel warned use of land to store carbon or grow fuel crops risked worsening food insecurity if poorly managed
It is high time to reboot our relationship with nature
Leaders must take decisive action to support nature-based solutions to the climate challenge, in light of the latest UN science report