N4C Weekly Briefing
11- 18 January 2023
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Ecuador Tried to Curb Drilling and Protect the Amazon. The Opposite Happened.
The New York Times, Caitrin Einhorn and Manuela Andreoni, 14 January
The New York Times digs into the issues around oil exploration and development in Ecuador where a novel idea to leave the country’s vast oil reserves in the ground fizzled for lack of international support. "Now, struggling under painful debt, the government wants to expand drilling in the rainforest." In a companion piece, NYT Journalist Manuela Andreoni reported from the Waorani Indigenous community in Ecuador near the Yasuní National Park where oil drilling is producing profits but no benefits for the local peoples.
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WEF launches initiative to unlock $3 trillion a year for climate and nature
The Economic Times, 17 January
The Economic Times shares that the World Economic Forum, supported by more than 45 partners launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA), a global initiative to fund and grow new and existing public, private and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to help unlock the $3 trillion of financing needed each year to reach net zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050. The Times covers analysis from Trove Research of more than 6,500 businesses' offset strategies, which reveals that their climate commitments for the next quarter of a century would require up to 380 million hectares of land, an area larger than India. Research suggests that there is only about 350 million hectares of land in the world that could be used for new forest growth. ESG Investor reports that a vast majority (89%) of companies view carbon credits, often including nature-based credits, as a valuable tool to mitigate CO2 emissions, according to a new survey of more than 500 medium to large businesses across the US, UK and Europe. The survey conducted by Conservation International and the We Mean Business Coalition, explored the priorities of businesses seeking to reduce their emissions. It found that, while companies generally support the use of carbon credits traded in voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) to offset emissions that can’t be cut in the short-term, there are concerns around potential greenwashing, as well as challenges in evaluating the quality of carbon credits. These findings run counter to the findings of another survey, conducted by WEF and Bain & Co. in the fourth quarter of 2022 that finds that less than a quarter of 137 global companies surveyed plan to use carbon credits, despite more than 90% of respondents promising to cut their net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The Wall Street Journal reports the story.
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Brazil makes official bid for Amazonian city to host COP30
Reuters, 11 January
Reuters reports that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday he had officially launched a bid for the northeastern city of Belém to host the COP30 international climate summit in 2025, fulfilling a promise he made last year. Belém is the capital of the Amazonian state of Pará and one of the largest cities in the region by population. Lula has been promising to tackle deforestation in the Amazon, which hit a 15-year-high under former President Jair Bolsonaro. He recently named Marina Silva, who oversaw a significant drop in deforestation during his first stint as president in the 2000s, as his environment minister. Reuters also shares that US President Biden invited Lula to Washington, DC in February to discuss several topics with climate and deforestation anticipated to be primary items on their agenda. Grist covers the challenges Lula will face in reestablishing Brazilian protections for forests and people in the wake of his predecessor. Hosting the COP in Brazil is seen as a way to encourage more international support for his agenda to preserve the Amazon.
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Palm oil buyers compromise no-deforestation pledges by sourcing from conglomerates with logging, mining assets
Eco-Business, Robin Hicks, 17 January
Eco-Business shares a new report from Chain Reaction Research that looks into the role of palm oil buyers' zero-deforestation policies and their gap in coverage for deforestation tied to other commodities from logging and mining. The report found expanding zero-deforestation policies to other commodities would be relatively cheap and could reduce significant risks for buyers and investors. Reuters Events reviews the corporate-led Cocoa & Forests Initiative in Ghana and Ivory Coast that has failed to meet its goals in reducing deforestation. The Washington Post reports that Mighty Earth is taking on the Brazilian-based food giant JBS over $3.2 billion worth of “green bonds” linked to the company’s sustainability goals. Mighty Earth filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that JBS is already failing to meet its emissions targets. Mighty Earth wants the agency to impose penalties and injunctions on the Brazilian company, which it says has contributed to or ignored deforestation carried out by its suppliers.
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Wall Street's New ESG Money-Maker Promises Nature Conservation — With a Catch
Bloomberg, Natasha White, 11 January
Bloomberg covers the growing interest amongst banks in developing economies that could be fertile ground for new debt-for-nature swap programs. Belize, home to a threatened coral reef and a mountain of sovereign debt, has become a test case for a new kind of finance that mixes debt relief and environmental protection. Reuters reports that Zambia received a 'debt-for-nature swap' proposal as part of its $13 billion restructuring discussions, a move that while complex to secure and not part of current talks, could set an eco-friendly precedent for other debt crises if eventually included.
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Conservation International and We Mean Business Coalition reveal in a new survey the opinions of business leaders on their priorities and preferences for tackling climate change.
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Chain Reaction Research publishes a new report analyzing the status of cross-commodity no deforestation approaches at every stage of the palm oil supply chain and among financial institutions, how to leverage opportunities for implementation, and key challenges ahead. They will host a webinar on Jan 26th to discuss the report.
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Cities4Forests and WRI present a new methodology designed to help measure the area of tropical deforestation and associated CO2 emissions resulting from the consumption of commodities linked to deforestation at the city level. The methodology captures a significant percentage of cities’ total emissions and gives city governments the information needed to visualize and quantify their consumption of forest-risk commodities and resulting impacts.
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Tropical Forest Alliance shares a report from UK PACT and CDP in its Jurisdictional Approaches Resource Hub on Nature-Based Solutions in Brazil.
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Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness publishes a brief detailing carbon finance opportunities and challenges for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
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Sylvera launches a new guide to Jurisdictional REDD+ carbon credits comparing the different types of REDD+ projects and breaks down the technicalities, pros and cons.
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IIED and UNDP share a report on emerging lessons for biocredits to finance nature and people.
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The main objectives of the Moldova Soil Conservation Project are restoration and conservation through forestation of 20.3 thousand ha of degraded lands. In the first few years of the project (2002-2006), the entire area was planted. Project activities now focus on tending and restoring these forests, in the context of biodiversity conservation. The project also engages in carbon financing with an estimated 3.6 million tons of CO2 reductions over 20 years, of which 1.9 million tons are already financed by World Bank funds. The project further supplies rural populations with wood and non-wood products.
N4C is compiling an index of NBS case studies, together with an interactive map, to highlight action on the ground. Each week, we will be choosing a case study to present, to help give concrete examples of work being done to bring NBS theory into practice.
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NUMBER OF THE WEEK
c
$3 Trillion
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The fundraising target of the new Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) launched at Davos to finance climate and nature action.
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NATURE JOBS/OPPORTUNITIES
In this section, we'll be posting NBS-related jobs as a service to the community. If you have an opportunity you'd like featured in the newsletter, please send the details to us.
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Media Round-Up
Conservation
Costa Rica receives $13.3 million from the Green Climate Fund, after a rigorous technical evaluation with the support of UNDP
UNDP, 22 December
Getting Closer to Nature
ESG Investor, Aaran Fronda, 13 January
Study: UK's woodlands delivering £400m boost to flood resilience efforts
BusinessGreen News, Amber Rolt, 13 January
How has the Ramsar Convention shaped China’s wetland protection?
China Dialogue, Hu Boxiang, Shan Shiyao, 12 January
The US was poised to pass the biggest environmental law in a generation. What went wrong?
Vox, Benji Jones, 11 January
GUINEA: Launch of a conservation project in the Upper-Niger National Park
Afrik 21, Boris Ngounou, 9 January
PRI to launch collaborative nature stewardship initiative
Responsible Investor, Gina Gambetta, 17 January
Explainer: Can the world ‘halt and reverse’ biodiversity loss by 2030?
Carbon Brief, Daisy Dunne, 16 January
Non-profit selected to help African central banks assess nature-related risk
Responsible Investor, Gina Gambetta, 16 January
Refugees planning together for sustainable forest management
Forest News, Georgina Smith, 10 January
10 Places to Watch in 2023 for Conservation
The Nature Conservancy, 4 January
Indigenous and Local Communities
B.C. Supreme Court case could overhaul mining exploration
The Narwhal, Francesca Fionda, 11 January
Weakening of agrarian reform program increases violence against settlers in Brazilian Amazon
Mongabay, Andrew Johnson, 10 January
Dammed, now mined: Indigenous Brazilians fight for the Xingu River’s future
Mongabay, Andrew Johnson, 12 January
Bringing Regenerative Agriculture Back to Indigenous Communities
Food Tank, Shelley Rose
In the Amazon, Indigenous and Locally Controlled Land Stores Carbon, but the Rest of the
Rainforest Emits Greenhouse Gases
Inside Climate News, Bob Berwyn, Katie Surma, 16 January
Carbon Markets
Gabon aims to sell its 90m sovereign credits at $14/tCO2e
QC Intel, 12 January
Australia publishes draft nature repair market legislation
Carbon Pulse, 23 December
Conservation partnership forms to drive biodiversity credit pilot deals
Carbon Pulse, 12 January
ANALYSIS: Government must lead investment in Australia’s nature repair market if it wants it to succeed, experts say
Carbon Pulse, 12 January
Shenzhen releases draft accounting guidelines for blue carbon
Carbon Pulse, 12 January
Survey points to keen corporate interest in carbon credits, but also mistrust
Carbon Pulse, 12 January
ICE to alter delivery method for California, nature-based carbon contracts
Carbon Pulse, 12 January
US state's loan aims to boost credits from family-owned forests
QC Intel, 11 January
Anew invests up to $640m in REDD+ developer and financier
QC Intel, 11 January
Several REDD+ projects under way in Papua province - company
QC Intel, 11 January
IDB picks four projects for digital biodiversity token initiative
Carbon Pulse, 5 January
FEATURE: Dos and don’ts – Biodiversity market looking to carbon for guidance
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
County mulls DNR protections for four forest parcels
Cascadia Daily, 10 January
Carbon credit platform partners with carbon removal funders’ club to broaden reach
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
Carbon removals marketplace strikes deal to help supply industry coalition
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
Indonesian project developer secures land for REDD+ project in Papua
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
South Africa’s blue carbon restoration can contribute to climate goals -report
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
California carbon market watchdog recommends tightening allowance supply, studying no-trade zones
Carbon Pulse, 11 January
Assembling the Pieces of the Carbon Pricing Puzzle
ESG Investor, Emmy Hawker, 11 January
What will the increased financialization of carbon do for decarbonization?
Greenbiz, Grant Harrison, 11 January
Fear of greenwashing is 'main barrier' to corporate use of carbon credits
Responsible Investor, Gina Gambetta, 16 January
Guyana to generate 7.2m 2021 credits, extend ART participation
QC Intel, 16 January
WWF announces tool to help measure corporate impact and risks for biodiversity loss
Carbon Pulse, 16 January
WEF principles on biodiversity market challenge area-based credits
Carbon Pulse, 16 January
Three issues will decide if Labor’s climate policy is a success – what the government does next is key
The Guardian, Adam Morton, 13 January
Researchers to support East Kalimantan’s low-carbon emission programme with impact evaluation
CIFOR Forests News, Jessicha Valentina, 13 January
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of carbon markets
Ecosystem Marketplace, Charlotte Streck, 13 January
ART programme lists Ethiopia REDD+ concept, approves Guyana monitoring period
Carbon Pulse, 13 January
From paper to people: Bringing equity to carbon markets [Commentary]
GreenBiz, Valentina Guido, 10 January
Nature Loss
Has global deforestation accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Jonnathan Céspedes, Janelle M. Sylvester, Lisset Pérez Marulanda, Paula Paz Garcia, Louis Reymondin, Mehran Khodadadi, Jhon J. Tello, Augusto Castro Nunez
Malaysia threatens to halt palm oil exports to EU
QC Intel, 12 January
Indonesia’s biofuel push must go beyond palm oil to reduce risk, experts say
Mongabay, Hans Nicholas Jong, 10 January
Venezuela’s Yapacana National Park suffering increasing mining deforestation: report
Mongabay, Maxwell Radwin, 11 January
El Salvador poised for big year of roadbuilding, despite environmental concerns
Mongabay, Maxwell Radwin, 12 January
Deforestation ‘out of control’ in reserve in Brazil’s cattle capital
Mongabay, Ana Ionova, 11 January
Australian forests continue to be cleared at globally significant levels, reports say
Carbon Pulse, 5 January
The Risks Of Not Giving Nature A Seat At The Table
Aimhi Earth, George Biesmans, 10 January
Ecuador Moves to Expand Drilling in the Amazon
The New York Times
Efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity loss are inseparable as new mass extinction looms [Commentary]
South China Morning Post, David Dodwell, 16 January
Images suggest land being cleared for cotton farming before permits granted
ABC News, Roxanne Fitzgerald and Hannah Meagher, 12 January
Finding patterns in forest loss
Forest News, Barbara Fraser, 11 January
Faith groups help to save disappearing forests
UNEP, 11 January
Salvadoran environmental defenders detained for decades-old crimes
The Guardian, Nina Lakhani, 14 January
Pulp-and-paper Driven deforestation in Indonesia accelerates in 2022
Nusantara Blog, 13 January
Ecuador Moves to Expand Drilling in the Amazon
The New York Times, Catrin Einhorn and Manuela Andreoni, 14 January
UNEP and S&P Global Sustainable1 launch new nature risk profile methodology
UNEP, 17 January
Working on the Ground in Indonesia’s Palm Oil Sector
JA Hub, Innovation Forum Podcast, 22 December
Restoration
Time to branch out? Trees put lawns in the shade when it comes to tackling climate crisis
The Guardian, Tess McClure, 12 January
Nature Tech
A Biotech Startup Is Boosting Bee Endurance with Supplements
Bloomberg, Coco Liu, 13 January
Murdered Belize environmentalist helped boost marine conservation through technology
Mongabay, Maxwell Radwin, 10 January
Sustainable Forestry
The promise of batteries that come from trees
BBC Future, Chris Baraniuk, 3 January
Agriculture and Soil Health
Can This Beef Cooperative Become ‘the West’s Largest Climate-Smart Ranching Program’?
Civil Eats, Caroline Tracey, 10 January
Agriculture Companies Push Carbon-Capture Farming; Growers Are Skeptical
The Wall Street Journal, Patrick Thomas, 15 January
There’s a Climate Solution in Dairy Cows’ Stomachs
The Wall Street Journal, Fred Krupp and Antoine de Saint-Affrique, 16 January
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Nature4Climate's Weekly Briefing summarises content from international media outlets (and our partner organisations) on stories, developments and events that relate to nature-based solutions. Our editorial policy is to circulate articles and opinion pieces whether we agree or disagree with viewpoints represented. Please submit NCS jobs, news, reports and events for the newsletter to info@nature4climate.org.
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