Global Climate News

US-based Land Life has announced a partnership with the Colorado State Land Board to reforest up to 1,000 acres of wildfire-affected land in Colorado. This initiative will use private finance to generate carbon credits, which will be sold on the voluntary carbon market to support public schools. The project will focus on state trust lands in Grand, Huerfano, and Larimer counties, with tree planting set to begin in Fall 2025. The project aims to improve watershed health, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience to climate-induced stressors.

US-based Grand Canyon Trust has offered free volunteer trips for individuals eager to participate in science and restoration projects on the Colorado Plateau. These trips require no special skills, only a passion for nature and a desire to learn. The organization provides food and camping gear to all volunteers, encouraging outdoor engagement and environmental stewardship.

South Africa's Cabinet approved the submission of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the Western Indian Ocean to Parliament. The Nairobi Convention promotes sustainable biodiversity management and enhances resilience to climate change impacts. This protocol offers opportunities for South Africa to enhance its capacity for climate change mitigation. The adoption was made official on 12 September 2023.

Japan's Aichi Prefecture announced the call for project proposals to form an ecosystem network in 2025. Utilizing the 'Aichi Forest and Green Creation Tax', the initiative aims to support community-driven projects for biodiversity, including habitat creation and maintenance. Successful projects can receive grants up to 3 million yen, with a 100% subsidy for eligible costs covered by the governor. The application period runs from February 21 to March 14, 2025, and projects must be completed by February 2026.

Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration announced on February 12, 2025, that it has lifted the pollution control status of the underground water pollution case at the Penghu County Oil Supply Center, attributed to effective pollution mitigation efforts. After several years of remediation efforts, the pollutant concentration has now fallen below the regulatory standards, marking it as the first successful pollution cleanup case in 2025. The pollution incident, which started in 2018, involved oil contamination discovered during inspections. To ensure safe drinking water for local residents, immediate response measures were implemented by CPC Corporation, with continuous supervision from environmental officials. The case highlights the importance of proactive environmental management for sustainable water resource usage.

US-based researchers leveraged extensive community science resources to investigate how extreme weather events (EWEs) affect the phenology of 581 angiosperm species and 172 Lepidoptera across the contiguous United States. Their study revealed that plant and insect phenology is highly responsive to EWEs, which are expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change. The findings suggest that EWEs may be crucial drivers of mismatches in the timing of plant flowering and insect activity.

Wales-based Natural Resources Wales (NRW) collaborated with Adventure Tours UK to plant approximately 200 trees at the confluence of the River Ceiriog and Dee on February 20. This planting is part of the LIFE Dee River project, which has already established 20,000 trees across the catchment area. The initiative aims to enhance local biodiversity and support river health by stabilizing riverbanks, reducing erosion, and providing shade to cool water temperatures for cold-water species like salmon. Additionally, the newly planted trees will sequester carbon, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.

Brazilian President Lula met with leaders from the Xingu Indigenous Territory on February 20th to discuss climate change, food security, and the strengthening of indigenous cultures. The meeting included influential figures such as Cacique Tapi Yawalapiti and coordinators from the Indigenous Culture Pontoon. Lula committed to visiting the Xingu territory later this year, aiming to further discussions and implement important measures for indigenous peoples. He will also pay tribute to the renowned indigenous leader Cacique Raoni Metuktire during his visit, highlighting the national and international recognition of his advocacy for indigenous rights.

Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains, a vital ecological area, faced funding cuts that jeopardize a $15 million conservation project. The region, rich in biodiversity, relies on $1 million in U.S. support for community agreements critical for forest protection. Conservation International has worked here for decades to secure these forests, but with U.S. funding not likely to be restored, future efforts hang in the balance.

Cecil has introduced its second scientific concept, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), detailing its applications in nature data analysis. LULC serves as a framework for classifying Earth's surface into comprehensible categories of existing physical features and human usage. The concept assists in monitoring natural hazards, regulatory compliance like the EU’s Deforestation Regulation, and supports scientific evaluations by providing context for data like plant biomass. The initiative emphasizes the importance of robust datasets to facilitate these analyses.

Spain-based Sidenor participated in the SCALE-UP project, an initiative funded by the Basque Government's HAZITEK program. This project aims to develop innovative methodologies to validate the reliability of large scale wind turbine components without the need for extensive testing facilities. Focused on optimizing induction hardening processes for offshore wind turbine fasteners, Sidenor integrates experimental trials and simulation models to enhance mechanical properties and durability. This effort also aligns with their commitment to reduce carbon emissions in steel production using renewable energies.

The EU's expert group on climate change policy (CCEG) is currently accepting applications from organizations to enhance the aviation formation. The CCEG aims to strengthen discussions and effectively implement the EU ETS Directive for aviation. The selected members will contribute to achieving the EU's target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Additionally, a new support mechanism to accelerate the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) has been introduced, allocating 20 million allowances worth an estimated €1.6 billion. The first meetings will begin in 2025.

US-based environmental groups including Coal River Mountain Watch and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the approval of a Clean Water Act permit for the Turkeyfoot Surface Mine in West Virginia. The mining operation, authorized to dump waste into local streams, poses significant risks to both water quality and community health. The lawsuit argues that the Corps acted arbitrarily in granting the permit, despite historical evidence showing negative environmental impacts from similar mining practices.

This study tests whether water tracks in frozen hillslopes form through thermal channelization, whereby heat from flowing water in these tracks deepens the permafrost's active layer. The derived equations of suprapermafrost Darcy flow reveal that as the active layer deepens, more water is attracted to these preferred flow paths. The research highlights the implications of changing climate on water track spacing, providing insights into hydrological changes in the Low Arctic as climate conditions evolve.

The UK government published a new guidance document on the natural environment that provides detailed instructions on planning policies to protect and enhance biodiversity. It emphasizes the importance of local nature recovery strategies, an initiative designed to map key biodiversity areas and propose necessary actions for habitat creation and restoration. The document also introduces the biodiversity net gain requirement, mandating developers to demonstrate a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity when undertaking new developments. This strategy is part of a broader effort to align planning practices with sustainability goals and climate commitments defined under various environmental laws.

India's Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) Pilot programme in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative is part of the Department of Land Resources aimed at enhancing urban planning and reducing land disputes using advanced technology such as drones and GNSS Rovers. The programme is set to be implemented in 122 urban local bodies across 26 states and 3 Union Territories, marking a significant step towards sustainable development by establishing an IT system for transparency in property records.

China-based researchers analyzed seventy drinking water samples collected from tap water, water boiling machines, and water vending machines in Shanghai for seven target organotin compounds (OTCs). They found that the summed concentrations of target OTCs (ΣOTCs) reached up to 129 ng Sn/L, with significant levels varying among drinking water types and source zones. The research identified materials used in pipes and emissions from maritime, agricultural, and industrial activities as the main pollution sources, supporting the need for informed policy and urban planning to maintain drinking water quality in rapidly urbanizing regions.

US-based environmental groups, including Coal River Mountain Watch, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Appalachian Voices, and Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lawsuit challenges the issuance of a Clean Water Act permit for the Turkeyfoot Surface Mine in West Virginia, operated by Alpha Metallurgical Resources. The permit allows for valley fills that would impact over 3.5 miles of streams, raising concerns about water pollution and community health. The groups argue that the Corps acted arbitrarily in granting the permit, ignoring evidence of environmental harm.

Ecuador established the '24 de Mayo' Municipal Conservation Area on July 26, 2024, covering 37,019 acres (14,981 hectares) in the Daule River basin of Manabí province. This initiative, accomplished through collaboration between local governments, communities, and conservation organizations, is crucial for preserving essential water sources and biodiversity. The area contains complex river systems critical for the water security and livelihood of local inhabitants. The Nature Conservancy – Ecuador provided technical support, with funding from the Andes Amazon Fund.

Ecuador's Machángara-Tomebamba Wildlife Refuge was expanded by 41,667 acres (16,862 hectares), protecting fragile high Andean ecosystems. This expansion connects the Wildlife Refuge to El Cajas National Park and enhances ecological connectivity. The area is now home to over seventy endangered or vulnerable species, including the spectacled bear and the Andean condor. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, the Machángara River Basin Conservation Committee, and other local organizations, supported by Nature and Culture International and the Andes Amazon Fund.