Major study warns of growing threat from invasive species
6/9/2023: The new global deal for nature agreed at COP15 in Montreal last year includes a target to reduce the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50% by 2030. But a major new report by IPBES warns that the impacts of invasive species are set to worsen through international trade, climate change and other human activities.
Source: China Dialogue
A wolf in sheep’s clothing: why Africa should shun carbon markets
7/9/2023: There is increasing hype and push for so-called voluntary carbon markets in Africa. For global corporations, purchasing credits is the cheapest way to avoid real cuts in emissions and continue business as usual. Since carbon markets were started more than two decades ago, there’s a large body of evidence showing offsetting schemes mean insecurity and land grabs for local communities
Source: Climate Home News
Africa’s inaugural climate summit ends with mixed reviews
8/9/2023: Africa’s first climate summit has ended with the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration, which calls for new global taxes to fund climate change action, an increase in Africa’s renewable generation capacity, and a new debt relief architecture. However, civil society organizations criticized the declaration for promoting false solutions such as carbon markets.
Source: Devex
India’s fertility rate faces sharp decline
6/9/2023: India may have edged out China as the world’s most populous country earlier this year, but recent official statistics show that the general fertility rate in India has fallen 20 per cent in 10 years. Lifestyle diseases are on the rise, while shifting economic and social factors are pushing back the age of marriage.
Source: CNA
Developing countries call for $100 billion loss and damage target
30/8/2023: Citing a UN-commissioned report that foresees climate-related loss and damages reaching $150-300 billion a year by 2030, developing countries say that $100 billion should be a minimum commitment. The 2030 target is one of several contentious proposals at negotiations in the Dominican Republic this week ahead of COP28 in December.
Source: Climate Home News
Why rich nations must pour climate funds into Africa
30/8/2023: Graca Michel calls on the forthcoming Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi to demonstrate that climate adaptation investment in Africa is in all our interests. Countries across the global north and south should work together to finally meet the commitments jointly made under the Paris agreement back in 2015.
Source: The Guardian
Kenya’s pitch at Africa Climate Summit sparks justice concerns
21/8/2023: Africa's first climate summit aims to unify the continent’s position on key issues ahead of the COP28 climate talks in December. Co-host Kenya is calling for a new narrative that ends the “blame game” between developed and developing countries. Fellow negotiators are anxious not to disregard the strongly held principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Source: African Arguments
What drives and halts tropical deforestation?
24/8/2023: Researchers have conducted a meta-analysis of 320 studies covering a period of 24 years, confirming that the key drivers of tropical deforestation are agriculture, cattle ranching, building roads, expanding cities into forests, and population growth. Stronger protections for parks and nature reserves help slow deforestation, as does better law enforcement and bans on logging.
Source: Mongabay
US aims to limit loss and damage fund
24/8/2023: The US, which long opposed the new Loss and Damage fund, proposes that it should target the most vulnerable countries and focus on areas not already covered by development banks or emergency relief funds. The G77+China umbrella group of countries argues that they are all vulnerable and should be eligible.
Source: Climate Home News
Middle East’s groundwater: Will it soon run out?
16/8/2023: As rivers dry up and rainfall declines, water stored underground is more important than ever. Many Middle Eastern countries already have regulations about water use but there is a lack of enforcement to regulate water abstraction for agriculture.
Source: DW