Nature Beat #8
Updates, stories, resources and opportunities
Welcome to the latest edition of the The Nature Beat. If you are new here, read my About page to find out what this newsletter is, who I am and why I am doing this. Or just dive in. You’ll find news, reporting resources, job postings, links to some great stories and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the world of biodiversity and nature policy.
Taking The Pulse
UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): The government of Canada will introduce a federal nature accountability bill in 2024 to ensure it meets its commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework agreed last year by Parties to the CBD. China became the 118th country to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People focused on protecting 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 — one of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s key targets. Colombia has offered to host next year’s UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16), after Turkey pulled out.
Endangered species: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature updated its Red List of threatened species. The scimitar-horned oryx is no longer classed as ‘extinct in the wild’ but is still endangered. The saiga antelope’s status has also improved, from ‘critically endangered’ to ‘near threatened’. It is a remarkable recovery for an important species, as conservation scientist EJ Milner Gulland explains here. The Red List update included the first detailed assessment of the world’s freshwater fish species — 25 percent of the nearly 15,000 assessed species are at risk of extinction.
Protecting the Med: The 23rd Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean took place in Portorož, Slovenia. Also known as the Barcelona Convention, this agreement gathers 21 countries and the European Union. They committed to a green transition in the Mediterranean region and adopted decisions relating to conservation of threatened species, strengthening the network of protected areas, and ensuring that at least 30 percent of marine and coastal areas are protected by 2030. See the press release or the Earth Negotiations Bulletin’s summary.
Tipping points: More than 200 researchers contributed to a report on Global Tipping Points — relatively sudden changes in the Earth’s natural systems that flip from one state to another. They warn that we face five harmful tipping points such as the collapse of coral reefs without urgent action on global heating. But as the authors note, positive tipping points are also possible. Megan Rowling covers the story here.
In Focus: The COP28 Climate Change Conference
COP28 is scheduled to end today. But as Carbon Brief shows here, eight of the last 10 COPs have run over by more than 24 hours. For now, I will focus on the nature related developments since last week’s Nature Beat:
FORESTS:
The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) published its annual report on progress towards the goal of halting and reversing forest loss by 2030. See the press release for details of all the FCLP’s news from COP28.
Norway and the UK committed US$94 million of new money to Brazil’s Amazon Fund.
The UK announced new details of legislation to prevent the sale of products linked to illegal deforestation. Earthsight raises concerns about it here.
Honduras announced a plan to restore and conserve the Moskitia, the country’s largest forest.
21 countries endorsed the Mangrove Breakthrough initiative aiming to restore and protect 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030. The Global Mangrove Alliance published a financial roadmap for securing the necessary investment of US$4 billion.
OCEANS AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS:
38 countries joined the Freshwater Challenge, the largest ever freshwater restoration and protection initiative. It aims to commit 300,000 km of degraded rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands to restoration by 2030.
The United States unveiled its Ocean Justice Strategy for communities that rely on the ocean and marine resources.
The Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Environment Facility pledged US$225 million to finance marine protected areas and other conservation efforts across the Pacific — see Todd Woody’s story for Bloomberg.
LINKING NATURE AND CLIMATE:
A group of 18 countries launched a Joint Statement on Climate, Nature and People in which they committed to do more to address climate change and biodiversity loss in a joined-up way. The countries say they will ensure that Indigenous peoples and local communities can participate fully in the planning and implementation of biodiversity and climate plans, and ensure these groups can directly access climate and nature finance.
Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Switzerland, the United States and the UN Environment Programme joined the ENACT (Enhancing Nature-based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation) Partnership alongside existing members Egypt, Germany and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
WWF launched a report showing how governments can better integrate action on climate change and biodiversity loss. See press release.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare published a report showing how climate plans of African countries and members of the Least Developed Countries overlook the role of conservation and ecosystem protection in addressing climate change.
The US Department of the Interior announced new support for nature-based solutions to climate change.
FOOD SYSTEMS:
Brazil, Cambodia, Norway, Rwanda and Sierra Leone launched the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation. They committed to action in ten areas to adapt their food systems to ensure better outcomes for people, nature and climate. They pledged to update their national climate and biodiversity plans to reflect this, and will report annually on progress. See the press release.
Another 18 countries signed the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, bringing the total to 152 that have committed to transform their food systems to address the climate and nature crises.
More than 200 non-state actors signed a Call to Action for transformation of food systems for people, nature and climate.
FINANCE FOR NATURE:
The UN Environment Programme published the State of Finance for Nature 2023 report. It shows that activities that harm nature are receiving 30 times more finance than nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. It calls for big increases in public and private finance for nature, including by reducing subsidies to sectors that harm nature. See the press release.
The 10 Point Plan initiative, a coalition of more than 40 countries focused on closing the US$700 billion financing gap for nature published an infographic on financing trends in 2023.
Major multilateral banks published joint principles for tracking nature-positive finance as part of efforts to boost funding for activities that protect and restore nature.
Colombia, France and Kenya announced plans for an expert review of relationships between debt, nature loss and climate change. It will identify reforms at national and international levels to enable nations to increase investments needed to protect nature, decarbonize economies and adapt to climate change impacts.
In The Spotlight
As the US Endangered Species Act turns 50, Kim Heacox reports on its successes and the threat it now faces.
Two journalists wrote excellent overviews of this year’s long overdue arrival of food systems on the climate agenda — Carissa Wong for Nature, and Thin Lei Win in her Thin Ink newsletter.
Adam Robertson Charlton reports on Ukrainian efforts to restore the Danube Delta ecosystem in the middle of a war.
The world’s largest beaver dam is half a mile long and only one person has ever visited it, reports Ian Frazier for Yale Environment 360.
Tips And Resources
SEJournal Online interviewed journalist Gabriel Popkin about his approach to reporting on nature-based solutions to climate change.
Jacob Kushner spoke to fellow journalists about covering human-wildlife conflict and coexistence. Read in English or Spanish.
The Society of Environmental Journalists updated its climate change resource guide and added a section on climate justice.
The Oxford Climate Journalism Network published 14 tips for journalists.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) published factsheets on invasive alien species: data on trends and impacts and how invasive alien species affect protected areas and most natural ecosystems.
What Caught My Eye
Climate change is already having big impacts on migratory species, according to a new report commissioned by the UK government as a contribution to the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals — see press release.
There are growing calls for stricter laws on wildlife trafficking in Indonesia, report Fidelis Satriastanti and Lusia Arumningtyas for China Dialogue.
Researchers warn that a global mass coral bleaching and mortality event is likely over the next 12 to 24 months.
Rhett Butler reports for Mongabay.com on an organization in Ecuador protecting ten percent of the world's bird species.
Traffic explains how the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is sharpening its teeth.
Researchers raise concerns about logging and poaching in a biodiversity hotspot in Cameroon.
Down in Antarctica, bird flu is rampaging and is suspected to have killed hundreds of elephant seals – Phoebe Weston reports.
Ilhan Dahir and David Willima from the Institute for Security Studies urge African nations to ratify the High Seas Treaty.
UNEP and FAO released a report on successful restoration of mountain ecosystems — see the press release or the story ‘Proof that restoring mountain ecosystems works’.
From The Journals
In case you missed it, last week’s round-up of new research included papers on: How birds help corals. Trade in invasive species. Cutting wildlife consumption in Peru. Conservation on private land. Plant diversity as a protective shield. Aquarium trade as a force for good? Read the summaries here.
Jobs And Opportunities
The Boston Globe is hiring two climate reporters — apply here.
Free Press Unlimited is offering two climate change fellowships for journalists in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria or Tunisia — deadline 24 December.
Diversity fellowships (worth up to US$2800) are available to help journalists attend next year’s annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists — deadline 5 January 2024.
The Earth Journalism Network has reporting grants for Indigenous journalists — deadline 18 January 2024.
Journalismfund Europe has grants for cross-border teams of journalists to do investigative environmental reporting related to continental Europe — deadline 18 January 2024.
Bonus content: There are more jobs, grants, fellowships and other opportunities listed here for The Nature Beat’s supporters.
On The Horizon
31 December: President Biden’s deadline for China to act on pangolin trade.
6 February 2024: The European Commission plans to present the EU’s 2040 climate target.
12-17 February 2024: The 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
26 February – 1 March 2024: The Sixth Meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) will take place in Nairobi, Kenya.
10-12 April 2024: The UN Ocean Decade Conference takes place in Barcelona, Spain.
Bonus content: The full calendar for The Nature Beat’s supporters includes nature-related intergovernmental negotiations, scientific conferences, report launches, and other events up until 2026.
Whose Eye Was It?
The eye belongs to a chameleon. Photo credit: Nathan Rupert / Flickr — Creative Commons
Thanks for reading. For past editions, see the Archive. If you found it interesting or useful, please share and subscribe. If you want to get in contact, you can reach me at: thenaturebeat@substack.com.