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 UK Environment Agency has provided low risk waste positions (LRWPs) for landspreading waste operations, allowing certain activities without environmental permits if conditions are met. LRWPs may be reviewed or withdrawn; the agency replaced LRWP 13 (zoo manure) with RPS 313 and added waste type 03 01 05 to LRWP 61.

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 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 Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Mr Richard Geoghegan and Mrs Jane Skelton for waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators at The Rosery, Basingstoke Road, Old Alresford, SO24 9DL.

Jeremy Collins has submitted an environmental permit application to the Environment Agency for Meridon House in Bishops Sutton, UK. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Indurent Strategic Land Ltd for land off Junction 1 of the A50 in Leicestershire. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The Environment Agency in England is consulting the public on an environmental permit application submitted by Richard Pearson-Wood for White Farm Stables in Kingsdown, Kent. The application concerns waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge, groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) provided a €4.7 million loan to Lviv, Ukraine, to reclaim the Hrybovychi landfill. This is part of the EIB’s Ukraine Solidarity Urgent Response package and the Ukraine Municipal Infrastructure Programme (UMIP). The project will improve waste management, minimize ecological impact, and transform the landfill into a green zone and park. Earlier phases received €6.04 million from EIB and co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The UK government announced a long-term vision to make farming more profitable and support farmers through reforms. This includes a commitment to food security and diversification of income streams. The Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund will provide grant funding for farmer-led trials of innovative technology and techniques to drive sustainable food production, tackle climate change impacts, and protect nature.

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.

Neste and Bayer signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a winter canola ecosystem in the US, aiming to scale winter canola production for renewable products. Regenerative farming practices will be used to reduce emissions and increase farm productivity. The resulting lower carbon intensity raw material will be used to produce renewable fuels.

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 Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) issued a resolution on assessing and managing risks from soil pollution in Abu Dhabi. The resolution regulates procedures for risk assessment and management, specifying corrective measures for sound environmental practices. It applies to terrestrial protected areas, unused sites, and polluted sites within EAD's environmental license scope. The EAD coordinated with relevant authorities during preparation. The resolution outlines procedures for risk assessment and rehabilitation of polluted sites based on impact assessments and environmental studies.

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.

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.

Multiple countries pledged to increase climate finance and achieve emission reduction targets at COP27. Developed countries aim to deliver at least USD 100 billion in climate finance this year and double adaptation finance by 2025. Around 20 of 200 countries submitted updated commitments, with Australia's being the most significant. Nordea, as part of GFANZ, is committed to net-zero transition targets and plans. Africa is likely to raise the issue of loss and damage help.

Brazil has implemented a National Policy for the sustainable management, planting, extraction, consumption, commercialization, and transformation of pequi and other Cerrado fruits. This policy prohibits predatory logging of pequi trees, promotes sustainable economic exploitation by traditional communities, and encourages planting seedlings to protect the Cerrado biome and support small farmers.

Studies of 15 dominant tree species in the interior western United States have revealed that seedlings are occupying historically cooler areas than mature trees, indicating regeneration failures in the hottest parts of species’ ranges. Disturbances did not uniformly catalyse climatic range shifts; differences were species- and disturbance-specific. Assisted migration programmes may be needed to help trees adapt.