Global Climate News

The Nature Returns programme, led by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, has published results demonstrating nature-based solutions' carbon and flood benefits. - **Programme achievements and interventions:** Over four years the six Local Partnership Projects across England delivered **800 hectares of habitat created**, **95,000 trees and shrubs planted**, **16 km of hedgerow restored**, **2.5 km of watercourses improved**, and engaged **over 7,000 people** with **400 volunteer days**. Projects trialled **3D laser scanning** to measure hedgerow carbon (finding hedgerows can rival woodlands) and identified **soil fungi** as an indicator for soil carbon; practical interventions included **leaky dams** that reduced peak flows by **12%** in Plymouth’s Seaton Valley. - **Funding, partnerships and monitoring:** The programme was funded by **HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund** and **Defra’s Net Zero R&D budget**, and worked with partners to develop **blended public-private finance models**. Sites will be monitored for **10 years** to track long-term carbon storage and biodiversity, with lessons feeding into England’s forthcoming **Land Use Framework**.

The Government of Canada, together with the Government of New Brunswick and the Town of Grand-Bouctouche, has announced funding to renew Bouctouche Rotary Park's natural environment and protect its shoreline (news release dated September 26, 2025). - **Main announcement/action:** The three levels of government are providing a **combined investment of $1.2 million** to restore the park's riparian zone and shoreline, including planting **more than 700 trees, shrubs, and plants**, and creating **accessible green spaces** with walkways, trails, signage, lighting, and benches; federal contribution is **$835,000 via the Natural Infrastructure Fund**, New Brunswick is contributing **$104,375**, and the Town is contributing **$260,625**. - **Background and implementation details:** Funding is provided through the **Natural Infrastructure Fund** which supports natural/hybrid approaches to climate resilience and biodiversity; federal funding is **conditional on Indigenous consultation and environmental assessment requirements**, and the announcement links the project to the federal **Atlantic Growth Strategy**.

The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, welcomed the World Trade Organization's (WTO) announcement that the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entered into force on September 26, 2025. - **Main action:** Canada **welcomed** the WTO announcement and was the **fifth WTO member to accept** the Agreement; the Agreement establishes new multilateral trade rules addressing **harmful fisheries subsidies** related to **illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing**, **overfished stocks**, and **unregulated high seas fishing**, and is the WTO’s **second multilateral agreement** and first to prioritize **environmental sustainability** as a core outcome. - **Background and implementation details:** The news release quotes **Maninder Sidhu** (Minister of International Trade) and **Joanne Thompson** (Minister of Fisheries); Canada **encourages** remaining WTO members to submit acceptance of the Agreement. Media contacts provided: Huzaif Qaisar, Director of Communications (Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca, 343-575-8816) and Media Relations Office (media@international.gc.ca).

The Forestry Commission, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency provide guidance on preventing and managing tree pests and diseases in the UK (page updated 26 September 2025). - **Main action:** The guidance explains prevention, reporting and management routes including **TreeAlert** for reporting suspected pests/diseases, and references key strategy documents: **England tree health management plan**, **England tree health resilience strategy**, and the **plant biosecurity strategy for Great Britain**. It lists transmission pathways (movements of plants/wood, wind/water, contaminated vehicles/equipment) and links to UK plant health resources and registers. - **Funding and targeted measures:** The page details funding schemes and pilots: the **tree health pilot** (grants for larch with Phytophthora ramorum; spruce with or at risk of Ips typographus; sweet chestnut with Phytophthora ramorum or sweet chestnut blight; oak with oak processionary moth; ash with ash dieback) and the **Woodland tree health grant** (part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme) with **restoration** and **improvement** grant types; updates to the page and scheme links were made on **26 September 2025**.

The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced over $1.44 million in funding for 10 projects under Natural Resources Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program, delivered through the International Model Forest Network. - **Funding and projects:** Canada announced **over $1.44 million CAD** to support **10 projects** under the Global Forest Leadership Program, delivered via the **International Model Forest Network (IMFN)**; funds will be used to **restore damaged ecosystems, support agroforestry and sustainable local businesses, and empower Indigenous and local communities (including women and youth)**. - **Background and program details:** The Global Forest Leadership Program **expands Canada’s international engagement** and shares Canadian expertise; the Model Forest approach originated in the **early 1990s at 10 sites in Canada** and the IMFN now includes **more than 60 Model Forests in more than 30 countries**, with activities focused on sustainable management and landscape-level conservation.

The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced an investment of over $1.44 million on September 26, 2025, to fund 10 projects under Natural Resources Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program, delivered through the International Model Forest Network. - **Main announcement:** On **September 26, 2025**, Canada (Natural Resources Canada) committed **over $1.44 million** to **10 projects** under the **Global Forest Leadership Program**, delivered via the **International Model Forest Network**; notable grants include **$350,000** to Kasetsart University (Bangkok, Thailand) and **$150,000** to Association Forêt Modèle Ifrane (Ifrane, Morocco), with the remaining project grants ranging from **$100,000 to $125,000** (see project list for exact amounts). - **Background and project details:** The funded projects target **rehabilitation and restoration**, **agroforestry and tree planting**, **forest and mangrove restoration**, **graduate curriculum development for forest leaders**, **nursery development**, **invasive species control**, and **landslide-affected land restoration** across **Morocco, Cameroon, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Switzerland (project supporting India), and India**; recipients include local model forest associations, universities, municipal bodies and IUCN, each receiving specific grant amounts as listed in the announcement.

The London Assembly Environment Committee has published the report "Parks: Under pressure" (published 26 September 2025) following an investigation into funding challenges for London’s parks, climate adaptation needs, and inclusion. - **Main announcement/action:** The Committee calls on the **Greater London Authority (GLA)** to fund the **creation of new parks**, support **sustainable drainage systems** and climate-adaptive planting in existing parks, and to fund **Parks for London** to develop resources (including case studies on innovative funding such as **habitat banks for biodiversity net gain**) and to create stronger links between parks and **NHS** health provision. The report notes **London's population has grown by over two million since 2000**, cites a target of **88,000 new homes a year**, and says **local authority parks budgets have fallen by approximately 8% since 2008** while the capital's population has risen by **over 15%**. - **Background and implementation details:** The report recommends the **new London Plan** include **minimum standards** for green space per person and reaffirm access to high-quality green space within **800m** (ten-minute walk). It also recommends the GLA fund a **biennial (every two years) London-wide survey** of parks users and volunteers to track diversity and barriers to volunteering, and highlights examples and resources to address strategic challenges facing parks. (Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is noted as available for interview.)

Greenpeace announces that more than 60 governments have ratified the Global Ocean Treaty. - **Main announcement:** More than **60 governments** have now **ratified the Global Ocean Treaty**, marking a legal step toward creating **high seas sanctuaries**; the text states there are **120 days until the Treaty enters into force**, and Canada — which has signed but not ratified — can still ratify in time to participate in the **first Ocean COP**. The article also notes a global commitment to **protect at least 30% of the oceans by 2030**. - **Background and concrete details:** The piece cites the need to designate **more than 12 million square kilometres** of high seas (an area described as **bigger than Canada**) off-limits each year until 2030 to meet the 30% target; it references specific sites and examples including the **Sargasso Sea**, **Vema Seamount** (off South Africa), and the **Galápagos Marine Reserve** as evidence of sanctuary benefits, and links to a Greenpeace action page calling for signatures to ensure Canada ratifies by 2025.

The federal government is investing $1,390,850 through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support natural infrastructure enhancements in five Alberta communities (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks) announced on September 25, 2025. - **Main action:** The Government of Canada is providing **$1,390,850** via the **Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF)** to fund water system improvements, ecological restoration, urban forestation, green roofs, stormwater retention/diversion, and other naturalization projects across **five Alberta communities** (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks). Municipal and other contributors are providing **$887,713** toward these projects. Funding examples include establishing native Aspen Parkland grasses and Boreal shrub/tree plantings at the Edmonton Valley Zoo and converting **2.1 acres** of parkland in Calgary to an urban forest with stormwater grading. - **Background and conditions:** NIF supports nature-based and hybrid approaches to **climate resilience, carbon mitigation, and biodiversity**; a minimum of **10% of the overall program envelope** is allocated to **Indigenous-led projects** and federal funding is **conditional on fulfilling consultation requirements with Indigenous groups**. The release references PrairiesCan's prior commitment of **$100,000,000 over three years** under the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy (launched December 18, 2023).