Land
Ethiopia bids to plant four billion trees in green push
The African country claims to have broken a world record by planting 350 million trees in a day, as part of a collective effort to restore lost forests
164 land defenders murdered in 2018, Global Witness reports
The Philippines overtook Brazil as the most dangerous place for activists and indigenous communities, according to the human rights watchdog
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
EU moots crackdown on deforestation through supply chains
The bloc is considering regulations to address the role of consumer demand for commodities like palm oil, soy and timber in driving forest clearance abroad
Leaked UN science report warns of clash between bioenergy and food
Models suggest large areas of land are needed for forests and biofuel crops to halt climate change, but this risks worsening hunger, draft tells policymakers
Trade deal binds Brazil to Paris Agreement, says top EU official
‘President Bolsonaro chose, and came with us,’ said Cecilia Malmström, as she defended the EU deal with several South American nations
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
Millions of people are experiencing water shortages as Chennai’s reservoirs are running dry and other sources of water are dwindling
Finland’s forestry myth undermines its radical climate ambition
The next EU presidency wants to drive the climate agenda, but its forestry industry is bad for carbon emissions, biodiversity and its indigenous Sámi people
China scrubs its coal projects from ‘world heritage in danger’ decision
Three coal plants that threaten the Sundarbans tiger habitat were removed from a draft text, while Unesco members declined to list the site as ‘in danger’
Yes, we can reforest on a massive scale – but it’s no substitute for slashing emissions
Tree restoration is being touted as the best climate change solution, in a new study, but its results should be interpreted with caution
EU ‘climate leaders’ plans found lacking
Finland, Sweden, Portugal, France and Germany praised for ambitious targets, but NGO analysis raises questions over details
A brutal murder reveals the chaos spreading in Bolsonaro’s Amazon
When Carlos Cabral was killed this month, it seemed history was repeating itself in a corner of the Amazon known for violence. But the real story was more disturbing
Finland to be carbon neutral by 2035. One of the fastest targets ever set
Incoming prime minister Antti Rinne presented the climate goal as part of a package with increased welfare spending on Monday
New Zealand’s farmers have a chance to be climate leaders
A separate target for methane from sheep and cattle has been painted as a sop to farmers; on the contrary, it puts the onus on the sector to curb warming
Bolsonaro’s plan to unlock the Amazon: split its indigenous peoples
Congress is blocking Brazil’s leader from expanding farming on indigenous lands, now he is making alliances with some traditional landowners
How can the biodiversity and climate crises be tackled together?
The protection of nature is a major weapon against the climate crisis, but it remains on the periphery of diplomacy and finance. That might be changing
New Zealand introduces ‘zero carbon’ bill with concession to farmers
Under a draft law, the country will reduce greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050, except for methane from its large meat and dairy herds
Podcast: Reporting from the Amazon under Bolsonaro
At a special event in London, CHN’s Amazon correspondent Fabiano Maisonnave speaks to Karl Mathiesen about the challenges facing the world’s most important rainforest
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