Nature-based Solutions Initiative
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On the misuse of nature-based carbon ‘offsets’
Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are being misused for greenwashing. Promoting NbS as carbon 'offsets' while continuing business as usual in fossil fuel use is not a solution to climate change. In fact, it can encourage continued or even increased fossil fuel consumption leading to more emissions o [...] read moreWhat Can Nature offer COP26, and vice versa?
‘Nature is our life support system' says Professor Nathalie Seddon in a new video from the University of Oxford, 'and to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is critical that we work with nature'.
Professor Seddon is one of around 30 official ‘friends’ of COP26, is a member of the U [...] read more
Knowledge Tree: decision making for effective, efficient & equitable social forestry
The Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC) has compiled knowledge on how to conduct effective, efficient, and equitable social forestry in Southeast Asia in their recently-launched Knowledge Tree. The online platform is designed to support decision-making during the design and implementation of social forestry projects. The information has been sourced [...] Read more
Tweet May 1, 2020
Tweet May 1, 2020
Climate Action Enhancement Package supporting enhancement of NbS in NDCs
The Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) is providing targeted support to 65 countries on improving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. This article shows in what ways the CAEP has been helping with nature-based solutions in NDCs. The most common type of help was with defining or updating targets (28%), followed by [...] Read more
Tweet April 29, 2020
Tweet April 29, 2020
Sustainable recovery from COVID-19 in Peru
This document: Resilient Amazon: From Emergency to Sustainable Development, proposes steps to minimise the environmental cost in Peru of the response to the covid-19 pandemic and corresponding economic crisis. Suggestions include:
– Create temporary employment to prevent people turning to illegal mining, drug trafficking and deforestation
– Support the recovery of local businesses, productive activity and local [...] Read more
Tweet April 24, 2020
Tweet April 24, 2020
Briefing Paper: The Role of Land in Achieving Net Zero
We co-authored a briefing paper for the Net Zero Network looking at the contribution of nature-based solutions and other aspects of land use to achieving net-zero emissions in the UK.
Key points include:
1) Nature-based solutions can be used to increase the size of natural carbon stores and keeping existing stores intact. This is alongside supporting human [...] Read more
Tweet March 24, 2020
Tweet March 24, 2020
Global Biodiversity Framework
The initial draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework was released in January; the document is expected to be finalised at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October this year. The framework presents five goals for 2050, each with their own 2030 targets for: net loss and ecosystem [...] Read more
Tweet March 12, 2020
Tweet March 12, 2020
UK Government Budget 2020
The UK government disclosed this year’s budget on the 11th March. It includes increases in spending in biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Notable commitments include:
– £640m Nature for Climate Fund to restore 35,000 hectares of peatland and plant 30,000 hectares of trees (an area about the size of Birmingham) in England by [...] Read more
Tweet March 12, 2020
Tweet March 12, 2020
4 countries have submitted updated NDCs
This year, countries have the chance to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with new targets for how they will contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Although the informal deadline for submission of updated NDCs was 9th February 2020, to date, only four countries have submitted new documents: Norway, the Marshall Islands, Moldova, [...] Read more
Tweet March 9, 2020
Tweet March 9, 2020
Absolute Zero Report
This report summarises actions required to deliver net-zero emissions in the UK by 2050, without the emergence of not-guaranteed new technologies. The authors calculated that this would require much more drastic actions than suggested by government bodies such as the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). For example, all airports would need to be closed between [...] Read more
Tweet March 9, 2020
Tweet March 9, 2020
COP25, Madrid
For two weeks in December, delegates from across the world met in Madrid for the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25). Despite being set against a backdrop of growing public demand for immediate climate action, this meeting saw disappointing progress. Only 80 nations committed to increasing ambition in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) i.e. commitments [...] Read more
Tweet January 13, 2020
Tweet January 13, 2020
UK Government Environment Bill
In October 2019, the UK Government introduced a landmark Environment Bill, which will come into action when the country leaves the European Union. It includes measures to improve air and water quality, reduce plastic pollution, and restore natural habitats. A new Office for Environmental Protection will be established, which will ensure that environmental standards are [...] Read more
Tweet January 13, 2020
Tweet January 13, 2020
IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
This latest IPCC report describes observed and projected impacts of climate change on our oceans, coastal zones, and cryosphere (polar and mountain ecosystems), and the human communities that rely on them. It reports widespread shrinking of ice sheets, glaciers, and reduction in snow cover, and the associated rise of global mean sea level. Such changes [...] Read more
Tweet November 18, 2019
Tweet November 18, 2019
Climate Change and Land: An IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems
This IPCC report highlights the importance of our lands as both a source and a sink for GHGs. It estimates that around 23% of total GHG emissions are derived from the way we currently use land (agriculture, forestry, and other uses), while natural land processes absorb 29% of total CO2 emissions. The report assesses how [...] Read more
Tweet November 18, 2019
Tweet November 18, 2019
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