Isabel Esterman Home to the world’s third-largest expanse of tropical forest, the world’s fourth-biggest population, and frequently ranked among the world’s top 10 greenhouse gas emitters, Indonesia is a country where what happens has a vast effect on global biodiversity and environmental health. Here, assembled by Mongabay staff, are some of the top news and… Continue reading From declining deforestation to quitting coal, Indonesia marks a pivotal 2022
Tag: Policy
EPA Finalizes Rule Protecting ‘Waters of the United States’
Supreme Court overreach may weaken EPA’s science-based rule The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule identifying waters protected under the Clean Water Act. The rule defines the term “waters of the United States” — sometimes referred to as “WOTUS” — and tracks the agencies’ longstanding approach for… Continue reading EPA Finalizes Rule Protecting ‘Waters of the United States’
UN Biodiversity Convention adopted the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Nearing the conclusion of a sometimes fractious two-week meeting, nations of the world agreed on a historic package of measures deemed critical to addressing the dangerous loss of biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems. Convened under UN auspices, chaired by China, and hosted by Canada, the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological… Continue reading UN Biodiversity Convention adopted the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Top conservation issues to watch out for in 2023
Mary Hoff 15 emerging issues that anyone who cares about biodiversity ought to keep an eye on What should people who care about conservation be paying attention to? Each year since 2009 scientists and conservationists from around the world have come together under the direction of researchers from Cambridge University to answer that question. Their… Continue reading Top conservation issues to watch out for in 2023
‘Turn Off the Tap on Plastic,’ UN Chief Declares Amid Debate Over New Global Treaty
Kenny Stancil Hours before the first round of negotiations to advance a global plastics treaty concluded Friday in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, the leader of the United Nations implored countries “to look beyond waste and turn off the tap on plastic.” “The push for an ambitious global plastics treaty has only just begun.” “Plastics are fossil… Continue reading ‘Turn Off the Tap on Plastic,’ UN Chief Declares Amid Debate Over New Global Treaty
Adapting China to extreme weather
Xia Zhijian Climate adaptation of industry and infrastructure is a matter of national concern after extreme weather battered China’s manufacturing centres this summer Vast swathes of China suffered from unusual weather this summer. Floods, droughts, power shortages, wildfires, heatwaves and heatstroke – the vocabulary of disaster has filled media reports, social networks and daily conversations.… Continue reading Adapting China to extreme weather
EU recovery plans promises green recovery, but is actually a threat to nature
The European Commission has claimed that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (EUR 672.5 billion) will ensure a ‘green recovery’ throughout Europe. Yet not only is it failing to protect and restore nature, it will likely even increase harm to it, according to a new Bankwatch and EuroNatur report. The report reveals the failure of EU recovery funds… Continue reading EU recovery plans promises green recovery, but is actually a threat to nature
Why a ‘one-in-a-thousand-year’ flood could become the norm in Australia
Notwithstanding the Australian government’s sub-par climate policies, Australia has created a government agency for recovery and resilience, a disaster risk reduction framework, and national adaptation guidance. The east coast of Australia is experiencing one of its worst floods in recent history. Catastrophic weather conditions over parts of south-east Queensland and the north coast of NSW… Continue reading Why a ‘one-in-a-thousand-year’ flood could become the norm in Australia
Food trade takes a mixed stance on new genetic engineering in EU
So far, GMO-free agriculture in Germany and Europe has been a success story: fields have been largely free of GM crops for years, and the direct use of GM crops in food has fallen through with consumers – which is why such products are not found in supermarkets. At the same time, explicitly GMO-free labelled… Continue reading Food trade takes a mixed stance on new genetic engineering in EU
More than 50 Mayors Call on Governments and Companies to Conserve Forests
Many cities are investing in trees, forests and other nature-based solutions to counteract these effects and help their residents adapt to climate change City leaders representing combined population of nearly 173 million residents have issued the Cities4Forests “Call to Action on Forests & Climate” Fifty-seven cities, including 51 mayors, have issued a declaration calling on governments,… Continue reading More than 50 Mayors Call on Governments and Companies to Conserve Forests