Source: How much space does nature need? 30 percent of the planet may not be enough
The latest news related to nature conservation from around the world. If there is
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A Global Call to Action in 2020
Ever since the first World Wilderness Congress (WILD1, South Africa, 1977) was convened, it has been a tradition of these congresses to sow deep seeds of change. The 9th World Wilderness Congress (WILD9, Mexico, 2009) gave voice to two big ideas that are now front and center on global agendas…
How China and Britain can lead the biodiversity and climate debate in the Covid-19 era
Covid-19 has upended the schedules for major gatherings relating to the environment. Two of the world’s most important meetings have been postponed, with new dates still to be agreed – the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD15), originally scheduled for October, and the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26)
‘We did it to ourselves’: scientist says intrusion into nature led to pandemic
Leading US biologist Thomas Lovejoy says to stop future outbreaks we need more respect for natural world…
Silence is golden for whales as lockdown reduces ocean noise
Curtailing of shipping due to coronavirus allows scientists to study effects of quieter oceans on marine wildlife…
On Earth Day, Grim Lessons for the COVID-19 Crisis
The administration’s preference for economic interests over environmental interests is reflected in its attitude toward both climate change and COVID-19…
Insect numbers down 25% since 1990, global study finds
Scientists say insects are vital and the losses worrying, with accelerating declines in Europe called ‘shocking…
Flooding will affect double the number of people worldwide by 2030
New research finds 147 million will be hit by floods by the end of the decade – ‘the numbers will be catastrophic’…
Earth Day Message to Leaders: After Coronavirus, Rebuild Wisely
Activists and scientists called on world leaders to shift the global economy onto a healthier, more sustainable track.
Here’s Why News on The ‘Insect Apocalypse’ Has Been So Confusing
News of an insect apocalypse has become a familiar headline in recent years, with study after study pointing to an alarming loss in invertebrate numbers. As consistent as the message seems, the results don’t always…
Preserving biodiversity by involving local communities in sustainable use of nature…
As Coronavirus Shutdowns Reduce Air Pollution, European Solar Generation Breaks Records
Three of Europe’s biggest economies — Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom — have recently achieved new records in solar generation, due in part to a drop in air pollution from coronavirus-related shutdowns, which has cleared skies and boosted production of photovoltaic cells, Greentech Media reported….
Before the Next Pandemic, an Ambitious Push to Catalog Viruses in Wildlife
To avert future pandemics, the Global Virome Project aims to track down and identify hundreds of thousands of viruses in wildlife around the world. But some experts say a better use of limited resources is to focus on detecting emerging viruses that pose imminent threats to humans.
2020 was supposed to be the ‘super year for nature.’ What now?
A pandemic has slowed the pace of life. It has not, however, slowed climate breakdown.
Conservationist: Protecting nature an ‘investment’ in our health
Wildlife populations have declined by 60 percent in the past 50 years. Over that same period, diseases that spread from animals to humans have quadrupled.
Tired of ‘writing obituaries for coral reefs,’ surfing scientists find new ways to save them
Grim reports and unsettling headlines paint a bleak future for Earth’s coral reefs, which are projected to be wiped out by the end of the century due to climate change and pollution.
COVID-19 is an unmissable chance to put people and the planet first
This is a moment that is testing our very humanity. It is also a moment when, if we are not on the frontlines of this pandemic, we can take a moment to look a bit further into the distance to imagine what the world will look like in the coming weeks and months, which will help form our longer-term future.
To protect biodiversity, small habitats matter
Study informs global conservation efforts to avert mass extinction.
A weakened Brazil will be part of the biodiversity COP
Amazon deforestation and other environmental problems cast a shadow over the role played by the world’s most biodiverse country…
Mapping key areas for conservation could help plants and animals survive climate change
People have spent most of the past month indoors as communities attempt to flatten the curve to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Opinion: It’s time for a Project Drawdown for Conservation
Imagine that it’s 2040, and we’ve reversed the extinction crisis that we were facing back in 2020.
When coronavirus curbs end, will we go back to abusing planet Earth?
The 50th annual Earth Day on Wednesday is a good time to think about the links between pandemics and climate change…
“Earth School” launches to keep students connected to nature in the time of COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, an unprecedented coalition has come together to launch “Earth School,” which provides free, high-quality educational content to help students, parents and teachers around the world who are currently at home.
Will Climate Change Threaten Earth’s Other ‘Lung’?
Phytoplankton produce half of the oxygen in our atmosphere, but understanding how they respond to climate change is complicated and critically important.
Microsoft is building a ‘Planetary Computer’ to protect biodiversity
“The species of the world are connected with each other. I think that’s actually one of the lessons, the real reminders, if you will, of the year 2020, as we all live every day with the issues obviously created by COVID-19,” observed Microsoft President Brad Smith, during a video launch Wednesday for…
Key investments can build resilience to pandemics and climate change
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc, the world’s energies are rightly focused on efforts to contain the virus and manage the economic fallout. Yet, in the background, the climate emergency remains as urgent as ever.
Ocean deoxygenation could be silently killing coral reefs, scientists say
A new perspective paper argues that ocean deoxygenation is the biggest threat to coral reef survival, perhaps even more so than warming sea temperatures and acidification.
Rewilding bison in the Carpathians to preserve wilderness strongholds and migration routes
This is the finding of new research published today by a coalition of NGOs and research institutes, consisting of a series of maps and policy papers which provide policy-makers with critical and effective new tools to decide why, where and how to restore nature using rewilding principles.
Our campaign to make a healthy natural environment a human right
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the BirdLife Partnership is launching a bold new campaign to add a new article to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the right to a healthy natural environment. Find out why this addition is so crucial and read our letter to the UN Secretary-general.
Biodiversity is in steep decline, says UN chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all to join him in demanding a healthy and resilient future for people and planet alike noting that all eyes are on the COVID-19 pandemic – the biggest test the world has faced since the Second World War.
Investing in Amazon Rainforest Conservation: A Foreigner’s Perspective (commentary)
Jonah Wittkamper, President of the Global Governance Philanthropy Network and co-founder of NEXUS, reviews the current situation and provides a perspective on how it might be possible to slow or reverse deforestation by investing in Amazon rainforest conservation.
Some good news about coral reef conservation
Amidst all the bad news about coral reef bleaching, an international team has shed light on what conservation measures are working to preserve these fragile ecosystems while balancing various social and ecological needs. “People have different goals for sustaining coral reefs,” says lead author Joshua…
Scientists, Conservationists Want Half of the World Turned into a Nature Reserve
A growing number of influential conservationists and scientists believe that the key to keeping the planet habitable is to protect half of the Earth.
How much space does nature need? 30 percent of the planet may not be enough
Nature needs to be protected, scientists agree, but how best to do it is up for debate…
Recent notifications from the Convention on Biological Diversity
- Reference is made to Notification 2020-007 issued on 20 January 2020, announcing the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on 22 May 2020: “Our solutions are in nature.”
- On Earth Day we come together and demonstrate the solidarity, cooperation and action needed to meet the challenges ahead of us. Our immediate priority is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and stand in solidarity with all people, including the most vulnerable, affected by the disease. But on this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we also need to tackle the challenges linked to climate change and the degradation of our natural environment.
- The purpose of this notification is to inform you about the recently launched Strategy for Private Sector Engagement of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Strategy was developed to help accelerate the private sector’s embracement of sustainable business models and contribute to the discussion on relevant resolutions adopted by Member States of the United Nations Environment Assembly.
