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.

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.

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.

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.

EU-based European Environmental Bureau (EEB) expressed disappointment over the European Commission's new vision for agriculture, which they claim lacks necessary environmental measures and targets. Célia Nyssens-James, Policy Manager for Agriculture and Food Systems, called it a weak response that fails to support sustainable and climate-resilient farming. Concerns were raised about the removal of plans to address harmful dietary habits and the export of dangerous pesticides. However, commitments to improve animal welfare and reduce dependency on foreign inputs were welcomed.

The UNEP FI has launched two collaborations to accelerate the adoption of nature-related financial disclosures. The first partnership is with the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative, focusing on capacity building among stock exchanges. The second collaboration involves the Principles for Responsible Investment and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, preparing banks, insurers, and investors for disclosures aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. These efforts aim to bridge the biodiversity financing gap, targeting $20 billion annually by 2025 and $30 billion by 2030.

Norway's parliament (Stortinget) has recently decided to allow development projects in protected waterways, which previously were safeguarded from water power development. This decision has sparked intense debate about the potential loss of valuable natural heritage. Researchers from NTNU and SINTEF are now working to gather new data on the state of these protected waterways and the implications of any developments.

UK-based Natural England has proposed innovative schemes to tackle flooding in Norfolk and Suffolk by working with nature. This includes projects on the River Wissey and Suffolk’s Deben Estuary that utilize nature-based solutions such as tree planting and wetland creation. Technology, including drone footage, has been used to inform flood management strategies, revealing areas suitable for restoration and flood management. A farmer named Patrick is also creating new intertidal habitats in Suffolk as a proactive response to rising sea levels, marking a significant shift in coastal land management that supports biodiversity.

The Global Carbon Council (GCC) has released two new Nature-based Solutions (NbS) tools to estimate GHG emissions and carbon stocks, aiding project developers. The tools, focusing on non-CO2 emissions from biomass burning and carbon stocks in dead wood and litter, conform to the latest IPCC guidelines. These advancements enhance the standardization and accuracy of emissions estimation in NbS projects, critical for project funding and climate mitigation goals.

US-based Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team partnered with Chestnut Carbon to restore 200 hectares of forest in the Southeastern US. The project involves planting 260,000 native trees, aiming to sequester 5,500 tons of CO2 by 2030. This initiative supports the team's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2030.

The U.S. government has committed to achieving net-zero emissions from commercial aviation by 2050. Current projections indicate that U.S. commercial aviation could produce nearly 500 million tons of CO2 per year by mid-century without intervention. Strategies include utilizing new airplane designs, improving air traffic management efficiency, and transitioning to 100% sustainable aviation fuels.

The UK government published an updated evidence directory on Working with Natural Processes (WWNP) in February 2025. The directory consolidates recent findings on 17 natural flood management (NFM) measures that protect and restore waterways and floodplains, enhancing flood resilience. Key highlights indicate that catchment woodlands reduce flood heights significantly and that soil management contributes to flood resilience, particularly in grasslands. It emphasizes the environmental benefits of measures like restoring salt marshes and mudflats, which also play a crucial role in carbon storage.

India is organizing a three-day International Bird Festival in Prayagraj from February 16 to 18, 2025, coinciding with Mahakumbh 2025. The festival aims to promote environmental conservation and biodiversity through activities that include competitions such as photography, painting, and debates. Participants will include experts like ornithologists and conservationists who will share insights on bird conservation, addressing topics like climate change and habitat protection. The government will also award a total of ₹21 lakhs in prizes to winners of various competitions.

Globally, there is a growing societal need for multifunctional coastal climate adaptation of sandy shores in the coming decades. Sand nourishment strategies are increasingly regarded as promising nature-based approaches, as they may increase flood safety and mitigate erosion while enhancing recreational and ecological functioning. This study identified the effects of beach, shoreface and mega-nourishment strategies on coastal multifunctionality using a systems-based approach and found that these strategies could supply coastal multifunctionality to a high extent, implying their viability for coastal climate adaptation.

US-based 6K has developed new microwave plasma technology called UniMelt that eliminates toxic waste while recycling all byproducts. The company is scaling up production of battery materials and critical minerals processing, with a new 100,000-square-foot facility set to begin construction in Jackson, Tennessee, expected to produce 13,000 tons of material annually. This technology addresses U.S. national security concerns by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

Japan-based Green Carbon Inc. has announced the completion of the country's first program-based registration for dairy-derived J-Credits, partnering with Hokkaido Bank, Hokuriku Bank, Hokuyo Bank, and Megafarm Dairy. The company aims to generate approximately 7,000 tons of J-Credits in the first year, making it the largest initiative of its kind in Japan. They also plan to target a reduction of 1 million tons of carbon emissions annually, particularly focusing on Hokkaido.

UK-based Arup and EnTrade have partnered to scale up nature recovery projects across the UK, leveraging private investment. The joint venture aims to expand EnTrade's model nationwide, with over £1.3 million already invested in pilot projects. The initiative supports biodiversity and environmental goals, launching a new online marketplace for trading environmental services.

UAE-based Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) briefed His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan about their future plans for environmental protection and sustainability initiatives. The agency is working on the Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network to safeguard 19 natural reserves, and initiatives for biodiversity conservation and groundwater management programs. EAD is leveraging technology like drones for monitoring and assessing environmental initiatives in the emirate.