Global Climate News

Robeco, a Dutch asset manager, has expanded its engagement in climate and nature, focusing on natural resource management, deforestation (expanding from palm oil to soy, beef, leather, paper and pulp), biodiversity, and human capital management. They are also initiating new themes on transition minerals (supply chains in electric vehicle batteries) and protecting shareholder rights from weakening regulations.

The Audubon Society's 125th Christmas Bird Count in Central Park, NYC, collected data on bird populations. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service use this data in reports on climate change and biodiversity loss. The count revealed a banner year for Tufted Titmice (283) and a record number of Red-tailed Hawks (25).

India's ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region has developed over 100 climate-resilient crop varieties, increasing food grain and horticultural crop production by 30% and 40% respectively in the last 10 years. The focus on agri-based enterprises has led to a 25% increase in agri-entrepreneurs in the last five years. The President highlighted the climate resilience of tribal farming systems and urged the conservation of germplasm resources for agricultural sustainability.

The Pew Charitable Trusts, in collaboration with 32 international scientists, conducted a horizon scan identifying 15 significant issues shaping environmental conservation. Four key issues highlighted include: macroalgae as a sustainable source of rare earth elements; record low Antarctic sea ice impacting marine ecosystems; human impact on seabed carbon stores; and offshore wind farms altering ocean processes. The study was published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution and partially funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The US Congress passed several bills related to water conservation and drought preparedness. The Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act will divert funds to conserve Utah’s Great Salt Lake. The WATER Data Improvement Act will support U.S. Geological Survey programs tracking water availability. The Drought Preparedness Act reauthorizes the Bureau of Reclamation’s Drought Response Program. The America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act supports wildlife habitat restoration.

The US passed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024, allowing NGOs to remediate polluted mines. The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024 designates these Florida waterways as estuaries of national significance, increasing protections and restoration efforts. The EXPLORE Act, improving public lands recreation access, awaits President Biden’s signature. The FISHES Act expedites federal disaster relief for fisheries.

The World Bank issued a NOK 5 billion sustainable development bond to raise awareness for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The bond, managed by Nordea, drew strong investor interest, highlighting growing investor focus on biodiversity. The World Bank also emphasized the need to integrate nature into economic models and decision-making, noting that over half of the world’s GDP depends on nature’s services. An estimated $700 billion in extra funding is needed annually to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

The UK government has announced a new farming roadmap focusing on sustainable food production, business diversification, and nature restoration. £5 billion will be invested over two years in sustainable farming methods. The government will also monitor public sector food sourcing to increase purchases of British produce and introduce reforms to improve supply chain fairness and planning regulations for farm businesses. New precision breeding technologies will be introduced to improve crop resilience.

South Africa's eThekwini Municipality banned fishing activities in the Umngeni Estuary due to severe sewage discharge near the mouth of the Umngeni River. The decision followed a Coastal Compliance Notice issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), citing pollution and E. coli levels. The municipality is investigating the sewage discharge and will repair damaged infrastructure.

The National Audubon Society released a report advocating for responsible offshore wind development that minimizes risks to birds. The report outlines strategies to balance clean energy with conservation, including a four-step process: removing critical bird habitats from consideration, implementing minimization measures, offsetting unavoidable impacts, and conducting monitoring. Several organizations, including Ørsted and the National Aquarium, voiced support for the report’s recommendations.

President Jimmy Carter's environmental legacy includes doubling the size of the national park system, creating the Department of Energy, and emphasizing renewable energy sources. He also signed legislation protecting millions of acres of wilderness in Alaska and designated numerous wild and scenic rivers. Throughout his life, he advocated for climate action.

The Canadian government, through the Canada Water Agency, has launched a funding program to protect freshwater ecosystems. $650 million will be invested over 10 years in the Freshwater Action Plan. Funding is open to various applicants, including Indigenous communities, to support projects enhancing water quality and incorporating Indigenous knowledge.

The National Audubon Society released a report, \"Birds and Offshore Wind\", outlining strategies for responsible offshore wind development that minimizes risks to birds. The report recommends a four-step process: remove critical bird habitats, implement risk reduction measures, offset unavoidable impacts, and monitor projects. The report also calls for policies prioritizing wildlife protection and community benefits.

US President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong birder, significantly advanced environmental protection during his presidency. He doubled the size of the national park system, adding eleven new parks (eight in Alaska), and passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, protecting 56 million acres. He also tripled the size of the national wild and scenic rivers system, created the Department of Energy, and installed solar panels on the White House. Throughout his life, he advocated for climate action.

This research assessed patterns of biotic homogenization and differentiation across more than 175,000 samples of 2,006 demersal fish species from 34 regions spanning six decades and 20% of the planet’s continental shelf area. Ten regions showed significant homogenization, eleven showed significant differentiation, and fifteen showed non-monotonic temporal fluctuations. Fishing pressure and temperature influenced beta diversity, but effects varied regionally. The study challenges the global homogenization paradigm in marine ecosystems.

A study has reviewed the reconstructed metabolic evolution of marine picocyanobacteria and explored how the marine biosphere overcame earlier constraints on productivity, potentially linking the rise of arthropods to cyanobacteria's colonization of the open ocean. The research suggests that photosynthesis may have been largely limited to shallow continental shelf waters during the Precambrian, impacting interpretations of biospheric productivity and Earth history.

India has created around 56,000 sq meters of dense forests in Prayagraj in the last two years using the Miyawaki technique. The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation planted trees at more than 10 locations, transforming garbage dumps into green spaces and improving air quality. The project included various species, including fruit-bearing, medicinal, and ornamental plants.

Wales has launched the UK’s first Ocean Literacy strategy, ‘Y Môr a Ni’ (The Sea and Us), aiming to improve people’s relationship with the coast and seas. The initiative, led by CaSP Cymru and involving 22 organizations, seeks to raise awareness of the sea’s influence and our impact on it, promoting actions to protect marine environments and support local well-being. The strategy addresses threats such as climate change and pollution.

The article discusses seven key climate and nature moments that could significantly impact climate action in 2025. It highlights potential developments and includes quotes from Joana Setzer on the increase in climate lawsuits. The article references a court case where Fossielvrij won against KLM.

Swedish Landshypotek Bank refinanced its SEK 6 billion green covered bond, which finances sustainable forestry and absorbs CO2 emissions. The bond drew SEK 14.2 billion in investor interest, setting a new greenium record for AAA-issuers at 12 basis points. The underlying forests represent 513,000 hectares and are certified or have green management plans. Investors like Öhman Fonder participated in the bond and a forest visit.