How Forgiving Debt Could Help Save the Earth
The question of debt and sustainable development has already been tackled in the 1980s with the introduction of debt-for-nature swaps. Now these agreements are regaining popularity. Wildfires in the Amazon, bushfires in Australia, floods in Indonesia, record-low levels of the Arctic
David Attenborough’s Witness Statement: ‘A Life On Our Planet’
David Attenborough graces our screens again in his most poignant documentary yet. Over the course of his 60-year career as a naturalist and beloved wildlife narrator, the landscape of the natural world has changed dramatically. Now, at 93, Attenborough is
World Fails to Meet Any of Aichi Biodiversity Targets To Stop Destruction of Nature
According to a UN report, the world has failed to meet any Aichi biodiversity targets this decade. The targets are intended to stop the destruction of nature and wildlife, from addressing pollution to protecting coral reefs. The Global Biodiversity Outlook 5
“Hope in the City” Tells a Story of Urban Challenges and Nature-Based Solutions
“Hope in the City” tells the story of Vikram and his daughter Anita who are just heading home from the movies when a tornado – a weather phenomena they have never seen before – comes out of nowhere. The devastation left
EU Pledges To Raise €20bn Annually to Boost Biodiversity
The European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the lands and oceans in the EU by 2030 as part of the European Green Deal to boost biodiversity. Environment groups have urged that such far-reaching ambitions be enforced stringently so
Rethinking Our Hushed Voices on Animal Endangerment and Extinction
Of the 112,432 species assessed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 30,178 are vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The current animal endangerment and extinction crisis is mostly of our own making — we are
What the mighty mangrove tells us about our broken relationship with nature
Mangrove trees lining tropical coasts are undervalued yet mangrove protection should be part of the plan to save the planet and protect biodiversity. Mangroves are trees that grow miraculously on seawater, fringing some of the tropical shores of our planet. They shelter
Biodiversity Talks: Kickstarting a Paris-style Nature Agreement?
UN biodiversity talks taking place under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Rome at the FAO Headquarters from 24 to 29 February 2020, provided the first opportunity for countries to discuss a draft biodiversity plan published in January. The
Nyando Climate-Smart Village launches community seedbank
Western Kenya now houses its very own community seedbank, a collection of the region’s biological diversity. Article in collaboration with: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) seeks to address the increasing challenge of global warming and
Biodiversity Crisis: One in Five Animals Traded Globally
A recent study published in the journal Science found that global wildlife trade is far higher than anticipated: one in five vertebrate species are traded and at risk of extinction. This article is part of an editorial collaboration with Earth.Org. The
Engaging the ‘Unusual Suspects’: An Interview With Azzedine Downes
Fifty years ago, activist Brian Davies founded the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in hopes of ending the commercial hunt for seals in Canada. Fifteen years later, in 1983 and in partnership with IFAW, Europe banned the importation of “whitecoat”
South American Visions for Nature-Based Resilience
Editor's note: This article first appeared on the ICLEI blog. One of the most urbanized regions in the world, over 80 percent of the population in Latin America lives in cities. Cities throughout the region are focusing on building resilience through