Global Climate News

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 National Property Administration (NPA) announced it was rated **'Excellent' by the Executive Yuan** for its execution of the “Respect the Sea - Coastal Cleaning Maintenance Plan” for the 113th year. - **Main announcement and results:** The NPA reported cleaning and maintenance across a **699.5 km** coastal jurisdiction; in the 113th year it recorded **41,542 km** of patrol/cleaning coverage, **5,686 tonnes** of waste removed, **70,715 person-times** mobilized, and **17,193** cleaning actions. The NPA also engaged **4,950** coastal aquaculture lessees with outreach on correct waste disposal and recycling to reduce source pollution. - **Methods, scope and upcoming activities:** The plan was executed via five strategies: **fixed-point patrol cleaning**, **key mobile cleaning**, **coordinated agency-led cleaning**, **proactively matching adoption willingness**, and **strengthening source control and publicity**. For the 114th year the NPA will participate in **7** beach-cleaning events located in **Yilan, Miaoli, Chiayi, Tainan, and Penghu** (no specific dates provided). Contact person listed: **Chief Specialist Shu-Man You**, phone **02-27718121 ext.1211**.

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.

Researchers at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) published a practitioner-focused study in Marine Policy that outlines four keys to improving the financial sustainability of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), based on a roundtable held at IMPAC5 (Vancouver, 2023) led by John Bohorquez and Christine Santora. - **Main announcement/action:** The paper, titled **"A Roundtable on Marine Protected Area Finance: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean on Four Keys to Success for Improving Financial Sustainability"**, synthesizes practitioner perspectives and recommends four concrete actions: **diversify income and innovate financing mechanisms**, **strengthen internal financial capacity**, **leverage cross-sector partnerships**, and **align policies to remove barriers**. The study originated from a practitioner session at **IMPAC5 (Vancouver, 2023)** led by John Bohorquez (SoMAS) and Christine Santora (Institute for Ocean Conservation Science) and includes peer-to-peer exchanges with MPA managers from **Belize, Honduras, and Costa Rica**. - **Background and case details:** Case studies and peer exchanges document specific, verifiable approaches: **Belize (Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary)** implemented revenue-generating initiatives—eco-tourism services, water-quality monitoring, and equipment leasing—and coordinated across the border with **Mexico**; **Honduras** developed a water-testing service for hotels and restaurants after COVID-19 reduced tourism revenue; **Costa Rica** advanced national strategies via the **Forever Costa Rica** initiative, which secured **millions in funding** and established a dedicated **"Blue Fund"** to support MPA management. The paper situates these findings within broader targets and events: only **10%** of oceans are currently protected, governments have committed to **30% by 2030**, and finance was highlighted in forums such as the **Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework**, the **Blue Economy Finance Forum (Monaco)**, and the **UN Ocean Conference**.

The Government of Canada announced $2.8 million in funding through the Quiet Vessel Initiative to support seven Indigenous communities along the Trans Mountain Expansion Project marine shipping route to measure and reduce underwater vessel noise. - **Main announcement:** The Honourable Steven MacKinnon announced **$2.8 million** in funding under the **Quiet Vessel Initiative** for **seven Indigenous communities** (Tsartlip First Nation, Malahat Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Stz’uminus First Nation, Snuneymuxw First Nation, T’Sou-ke First Nation, Halalt First Nation) to **build and improve scientific capacity** to measure and monitor local impacts of underwater vessel noise affecting endangered marine mammals such as **Southern Resident killer whales**. - **Background and program details:** The Quiet Vessel Initiative was **launched in 2019** and funds technologies, vessel designs, retrofits and operational practices to make ships quieter; this initiative is listed among accommodation measures related to communities adjacent to the **Trans Mountain Expansion marine shipping route**.

Transport Canada announced funding under its Quiet Vessel Initiative to support Indigenous-led monitoring of underwater vessel noise along the Trans Mountain Expansion Project marine shipping route (September 25, 2025). - **Main action:** Transport Canada’s Quiet Vessel Initiative will fund **seven Indigenous communities** (T’Sou-ke, Tsartlip, Malahat, Penelakut, Stz'uminus, Snuneymuxw, Halalt) with individual grants ranging from **$397,375 to $400,000** to build scientific capacity to **measure and monitor underwater vessel noise** and assess impacts on marine mammals, including the **Southern Resident killer whale**. - **Project details & background:** Projects include deployment of **shore-based and vessel-mounted hydrophones**, integration of **Automatic Identification System (AIS)** and camera data, use of **autonomous surface vessels**, dashboards for real-time noise/whale localization, community training, IT procurement, and multi-year community-based monitoring in locations such as **Saanich Inlet** (no implementation timeline beyond the announcement provided).

Kinowave has been named the UK winner of the 2025 James Dyson Award. - **Main announcement/action:** Kinowave, led by co-founder and CEO **Janarthanan Venkatachalam**, was named the **UK winner of the 2025 James Dyson Award** (national prize **£5,000**) and will compete for the international and sustainability awards (**£30,000** each). **Winners announced on 5 November 2025**; Venkatachalam will join Imperial's **Master’s degree in cleantech innovation** in **October 2025** on a **Chevening Scholarship**. - **Background and next steps:** Kinowave develops a **free-floating, anchorless wave energy system** made of interconnected fluid-filled cylinders; testing shows **60% conversion efficiency** (vs typical ~45%) and the system transmits **only 40% of wave energy** toward shore. Planned development includes building a **100 Watt prototype** with scaling to **10 kW within two years**, and **pilot deployments with several island nations** to validate performance and coastal protection benefits.

Maritime Minister Keir Mather wrote to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco to congratulate the International Maritime Organization on World Maritime Day and to outline the UK’s ongoing dedication to IMO work, including a commitment to reaching **net zero by or around 2050**. - **Main announcement/action:** The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is reaffirming the UK’s commitment to **maritime safety, security and environmental protection**, and highlights recent and planned actions including **modernising cadet training**, **updating services and prioritising seafarer welfare**, and embracing technological development areas such as **search and rescue**, **counter pollution response**, **autonomous shipping**, **green shipping** and **alternative marine fuels**. The MCA will **launch the UK Maritime Innovation Hub** and is supporting innovative green projects funded under the **UKSHORE programme**. - **Background and additional details:** World Maritime Day is on **25 September** with the theme **"Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity"**. The **Red Ensign and the IMO’s flag** will fly at the MCA’s headquarters in **Southampton**. Press enquiries: **public.relations@mcga.gov.uk**, **0203 817 2222** (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm); outside these hours contact via email with **#Urgent** in the subject for media-only enquiries.

President Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the 80th UN General Assembly announcing the completion of a bilateral peace process with Armenia and highlighting Azerbaijan’s role at COP29 and climate finance outcomes. - **Main announcement/action:** President Ilham Aliyev announced the **initialing and signing of a peace agreement** process: negotiations ran from **October 2022 to summer 2025**, the peace agreement text was **initialed on 8 August 2025 in Washington** and a **Joint Declaration** was signed the same day with **President Donald Trump** as a witness; Azerbaijan and Armenia jointly requested the **permanent closure of the OSCE Minsk Group**, and the **OSCE adopted the decision to close those structures on 1 September 2025**. The Washington summit also produced the **"Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)"** to ensure transit through the **Zangazur corridor**, and Azerbaijan and the US signed a **Memorandum of Understanding** to establish a **Strategic Working Group** to develop a Charter on strategic partnership. - **Background and other details:** **COP29 (hosted by Azerbaijan in 2024)** delivered climate finance outcomes including adoption of the **New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG / Baku Finance Goal)** to increase the previous **100 billion USD** target to **at least 300 billion USD per year through 2035** from public sources in developed countries to developing countries; Azerbaijan stated it **supplies natural gas to 14 countries**, aims for **almost 40% renewables by 2030**, reported **>400** civilian and military casualties from landmines since November 2020, **nearly 4,000** missing persons from the 1990s conflict, **foreign debt 6.5% of GDP** and foreign reserves **~16 times** foreign debt, and cited recent rating upgrades by **Moody’s and Fitch**.