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
How Local Governments Can Lead the Biodiversity Movement
New ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity Will Shine a Spotlight on Local Action, Starting With the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods while 1.6 billion people, including 70
On Extinction, Food, Climate and Inequality
One million species are threatened with extinction. As this hit the global media headlines reporting on the recent Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, many friends and colleagues sent me shocked messages saying, “Did you see this?” “This is
What Kind of Future Are You Voting for?
Earth Ratings is currently crowdfunding on startnext.com/en/earthratings. “A rising tide lifts all boats” was a phrase used to convince American voters that trickle-down economics works. Almost 60 years on, we should carefully consider the future of economic activity. The current rate
Can Science-based Targets Truly Guide Sustainable Development?
What lines can we not afford to cross when it comes to our impact on the planet? As the world races to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, it is vital that the pursuit of sustainable
Science for Good: A New Breed of Entrepreneurs with Science-Based Solutions for a Positive Impact
Science, technology and innovation are often regarded as critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, while scientists have been alerting society for decades on the negative impacts and risks linked to human activity — climate change, growing pollution levels,
The Sustainable Development Goals and Fighting the Plastic Soup
The Impakter team would like to thank Jaime Jennings of Island Press for the photo contributions. Island Press will publish Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution, authored by Michiel Roscam Abbing of The Plastic Soup Foundation (PSF) on April 4th. One of