CBD COP11
Biodiversity must be built into urban development to make future cities sustainable
Thomas Elmqvist from the University of Stockholm warns that as an area the size of South Africa is expected to be lost to urbanisation, understanding the benefits of biodiversity will be vital.
Has momentum from 1992 Rio summit been lost for good?
Government lament loss of climate change action over the three decades since the first Earth Summit.
UNEP: Great apes offer yardstick for environmental destruction
Douglas Cress from the Great Ape Survival Partnership at UNEP says that the loss of apes is an indicator for the destruction of the natural world, as he urges greater protection.
How alien snakes left Guam infested with spiders
In four decades, the brown treesnake, has wiped out Guam’s bird species, and caused a fortyfold increase in the Pacific Island’s spider population.
Amazon deforestation halted through local action
Milton Nogueira Silva, Executive Secretary of the Climate Change Forum of Minas Gerais region in Brazil says positive action seen on deforestation in Brazil stems from community engagement
Mistrust and confusion holds back REDD+ finance
Global Canopy Programme’s Andrew Mitchell says breaking down complex language of REDD+ vital to ensure the scheme succeeds
Pavan Sukhdev: Biodiversity not a luxury for the rich but a necessity for the poor
Pavan Sukhdev calls for the value of biodiversity to the poor to be considered when assessing the economic impact of the loss of nature.
Conservation or carbon sinks: Can the UN see the forest for the trees?
Forests play a key role for the UN’s climate change and biodiversity agencies. Melati Kaye investigates whether they can they serve the goals of both simultaneously.
UN climate talks in Doha should give REDD+ the green light
Market for carbon credits from forests needs to be signed off at COP18 if innovative finance mechanism has a chance of success
Fight club: Who wins when climate change takes on biodiversity?
Biodiversity and climate change are described as two sides of the same coin, so why does climate change appear to receive so much more attention worldwide?
Climate change finance pledges should be seen as investment – GEF
VIDEO: Climate change and biodiversity financial initiatives should be re-framed as investments rather than costs, reflecting the services the environment provides.
Hyderabad: A showcase of urban biodiversity
India’s growing cities have exacted a massive price on nature – but a biodiversity project in Hyderabad aims to reverse this trend
UN climate talks a miserable experience says negotiator
Seychelles’ climate change ambassador Ronny Jumeau says he does not expect to leave the impending UN climate change talks in Doha with a smile on his face.
Ministers meet in South Korea to set agenda for Qatar climate change talks
Climate Live: The latest climate change headlines curated by RTCC, updated daily from 0900-1700 BST
UN biodiversity talks end with finance deal as countries double funding to $10bn
Developed countries increase financial support to the developing world, but conservation groups say this falls far short of what is needed to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.
Hyderabad biodiversity talks: day 11 diary
CBD COP11: Finance crucial on final day or talks, criticism over participation numbers in Hyderabad and national tiger database announced.
UN agreement urges caution over geoengineering tests
CBD COP11: Small scale experiments with scientific value can continue, but funds must not be directed away from climate change mitigation efforts
UN biodiversity talks heading to tense final day
CBD COP11: Finance negotiations at the UN biodiversity summit in Hyderabad are in deadlock with under 24 hours till its scheduled end.
Hyderabad biodiversity talks: day 10 diary
CBD COP11: African group given busy bee award for finance work, high-level segment opens with plea from CBD chief and text agreed on marine protection and invasive species.
Madagascar close to losing 83% of palm trees in next decade – IUCN
CBD COP11: Warning that vast carbon sink in Madagascar on verge of destruction in 5-10 years unless urgent action taken by international community