Just 7 Commodities Replaced an Area of Forest Twice the Size of Germany Between 2001 and 2015
New analysis shows that just seven agricultural commodities — cattle, oil palm, soy, cocoa, rubber, coffee and plantation wood fiber — accounted for 26% of global tree cover loss from 2001 to 2015. These agricultural commodities replaced 71.9 million hectares
What’s Next for State Climate Action in the US? 7 Areas to Watch
The Biden administration has committed to a historically ambitious climate agenda. We can expect a profound shift in U.S. federal climate policy — from one of continued domestic rollbacks and international disengagement, to one of forward progress and cooperation. This is
5 Opportunities of a Circular Economy
More than 100 billion tons of resources enter the economy every year – everything from metals, minerals and fossil fuels to organic materials from plants and animals. Just 8.6% gets recycled and used again. Use of resources has tripled since 1970 and could double
7 Things to Know About Renewable Natural Gas
The production and use of renewable natural gas made from organic waste is growing rapidly in the United States. The number of production facilities in the country — which convert landfill waste, animal manure, wastewater, food waste and other organic
Direct Air Capture: Resource Considerations and Costs for Carbon Removal
As global carbon emissions continue to rise, the effects of climate change are increasingly felt through more severe storms, wildfires and flooding. The need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — such as through investing in energy efficiency, deploying solar panels
To Build Back from COVID-19, Don’t Overlook Informal Workers
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread health and economic hardship, and it’s occuring in parallel to a year of climate-driven catastrophes. East Africans face food shortages after the worst locust invasion in 70 years. Cyclone Amphan in eastern India caused an estimated $13.2 billion in
Make the Market Work For People and Planet
Imagine for a moment that Earth is a business. Planet Earth Ltd. is an integrated global conglomerate, providing products and services to customers all over the world. It’s been in business a long time, with such huge capital accounts that
How the EU Can Achieve its Bold New Climate Target
European leaders agreed on December 11, 2020 to slash the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. This is a significant improvement over the EU’s previous pledge of at least a 40% reduction by
Pollution Is a Racial Justice Issue. Let’s Fight it that Way.
Around the world, communities of color and marginalized groups disproportionately feel the effects of pollution and other environmental impacts. Whether it’s residents living along the polluted Cooum River in Chennai, India; Louisiana’s petrochemical-dense Cancer Alley; Thailand’s toxic hot spot Map
How Partnerships Can Turbo Charge Progress on the SDGs
In 2015, the world adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end inequities such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy, energy access and gender bias by 2030. Ending these inequities is urgent: an estimated 250 million people will suffer from
Climate Action Must Progress Far Faster to Achieve 1.5 C Goal
Countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) and ideally 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The latest science shows that emissions will need to drop
In the Time of COVID-19, China Could Be Pivotal in Swapping Debt for Climate and Health Action
Exacerbated by COVID-19 and building on economic and climate challenges, a major debt crisis is brewing in the developing world. The International Monetary Fund projects that average GDP in emerging market and developing countries will decline 3.3% in 2020. These developments make existing