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 Environment Agency prosecuted five organisations after discovering large-scale illegal stockpiling of construction waste at two Suffolk farms; courts fined the firms and ordered Nicholls Ltd to pay a proceeds of crime order. - **Main action:** **Five organisations pleaded guilty** to illegal waste activities after investigators found **~121,000 tonnes** of waste dumped at **Hill Farm** and **The Anchorage** in Iken between **2016 and 2018**; the court imposed combined fines and orders including **£70,666 in fines**, a **£425,000 proceeds of crime order** against Nicholls Ltd, and Environment Agency costs of **£102,250**. - **Background and details:** **Nicholls Ltd** transported the waste on behalf of **East Suffolk Water Management Board** without permits; the waste (wood, plastic, concrete, brick) was wrongly described as soil and breached two registered waste exemptions. Fines breakdown: **Nicholls Ltd £26,666** (plus **£425,000** proceeds order), **Howard Construction £18,000**, **Barconn Ltd £14,000**, **Landex £8,000**, **East Suffolk Water Management Board £4,000**. Costs ordered: **Nicholls £62,000**, **Water Management Board £15,500**, **Howard Construction £7,750**, **Barconn £7,500**, **Landex £7,500**; **victim surcharges totalling £850**.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published Working Paper No.1292 on 26 September 2025 analysing the macroeconomic effects of weather disasters across up to 151 countries for 2000–24. - **Main analysis and findings:** The paper uses **panel local projections** to estimate cumulative effects on GDP over **16 quarters** and on prices over **12 months**, studying seven disaster types (cold waves, droughts, floods, heat waves, landslides, storms, wildfires). It reports **average-sized droughts, landslides and wildfires** reduce GDP by **−2%**, **−1%** and **−0.4%** respectively over four years; and finds **larger, more persistent increases in food prices** versus other CPI components. - **Scope, data and policy-relevant details:** Sample sizes vary by analysis: **89 countries** for quarterly real GDP growth (2000–24), **54–131 countries** for sectoral annual output, and **151 countries** for monthly inflation components. The paper highlights affected sectors (agriculture-forestry-fishing; mining-construction-water-energy) and notes that **fiscal space and insurance** can mitigate disaster impacts.

BRGM has released a series of films illustrating applications of 3D subsurface modelling, produced with the help of l’Esprit Sorcier and published via BRGM's YouTube channel. - **Main announcement:** BRGM released a video series (produced with **l’Esprit Sorcier**) that demonstrates how the organisation uses **3D subsurface modelling** and software to address concrete problems across **groundwater resources**, **geothermal energy**, **mineral resources**, and **risk management**; films are available on BRGM's YouTube channel. - **Background and examples:** The North-Aquitaine model **MONA** has existed since the **1990s** and is described as the product of **30 years of research** to better understand **aquifer recharge**; example films listed include: **water in Nouvelle-Aquitaine**, **geothermal in Orléans**, **French tungsten**, and the **Le Teil earthquake** case.

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.

The federal government is investing $1,390,850 through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support natural infrastructure enhancements in five Alberta communities (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks) announced on September 25, 2025. - **Main action:** The Government of Canada is providing **$1,390,850** via the **Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF)** to fund water system improvements, ecological restoration, urban forestation, green roofs, stormwater retention/diversion, and other naturalization projects across **five Alberta communities** (Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Nanton, Brooks). Municipal and other contributors are providing **$887,713** toward these projects. Funding examples include establishing native Aspen Parkland grasses and Boreal shrub/tree plantings at the Edmonton Valley Zoo and converting **2.1 acres** of parkland in Calgary to an urban forest with stormwater grading. - **Background and conditions:** NIF supports nature-based and hybrid approaches to **climate resilience, carbon mitigation, and biodiversity**; a minimum of **10% of the overall program envelope** is allocated to **Indigenous-led projects** and federal funding is **conditional on fulfilling consultation requirements with Indigenous groups**. The release references PrairiesCan's prior commitment of **$100,000,000 over three years** under the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy (launched December 18, 2023).

The federal government is investing more than $1.3 million through the Natural Infrastructure Fund to support five natural-infrastructure projects across Alberta. - **Main announcement:** The Government of Canada (through the Natural Infrastructure Fund) is providing **more than $1.3 million** in federal funding to five Alberta projects: **Brooks (École Le Ruisseau Parent Society) – $200,000; Calgary (Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association) – $200,000; Edmonton (The Valley Zoo Development Society) – $622,770; Grande Prairie (Grande Spirit Foundation) – $168,080; Nanton (Town of Nanton) – $200,000**. These amounts are listed as **Federal Funding** for each project. - **Project and funding details:** Projects include creation/renaturalization of urban forest and natural recreation areas, stormwater retention grading, boreal ecosystem planting and green roof restoration, creek bank stabilization, community garden and a pocket park with a rain garden and bioswale. **Municipal funding** listed: Brooks $0; Calgary $0; Edmonton $220,000; Grande Prairie $26,520; Nanton $50,000. **Other funding** listed: Brooks $330,500; Calgary $80,000; Edmonton $155,693; Grande Prairie $25,000; Nanton $0.

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**.