Milkywire’s Post

Helder Barbalho, the Governor of Pará, the state in the Brazilian Amazon selected to host COP30 in 2025, emphasized that the IICA and its ecosystem of local, regional and international partners have an important role to play in the most important strategy for combining environmental conservation with social development: the targeting of land use. 📰👇 #IICAInCOP28, #AgOfTheAmericas, #AgClimateAction, #ClimateFarmers

Forests play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological balance and sustaining life on our planet. But deforestation is upsetting the balance and is even linked to human rights abuses. With a focus on Latin America, this new blog from Guilherme Amado examines the topic in more detail with facts and figures to demonstrate the scale of the problem. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e2cMmxf7 #esg #esgstrategy #deforestation

In a world where the need to minimize our environmental impact is more pressing than ever, the question arises: How are boards and companies expected to manage the risks of biodiversity loss?   My colleague Liane Langstaff, an environmental lawyer in our Toronto office, sheds light on the evolving strategies employed by many organizations. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4572ctZ #gwlgTO #biodiversity #EnvironmentalLaw #climatechange #ESG

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, discusses the Brazilian governments efforts to tackle deforestation. Brazil's deforestation and control plan includes combating illegal practices, territorial and land planning, sustainable development, and innovative regulatory and financing measures. A key focus at the moment is creating incentives for the areas with the highest rates of deforestation. These efforts are paying off, with deforestation in the Amazon decreasing (with the latest data showing a 22% decrease from August 2022 to July 2023). But as deforestation rates in the Cerrado increase (up 27%), Brazil is looking to implement deforestation control plans for all biomes. Marina Silva said "The Cerrado plan is already being implemented, and we are working on plans for the Caatinga [located in Brazil’s northeast], the Pantanal, the Campos Sulinos [also known as the Pampa], and the Atlantic Forest. Our goal is zero deforestation, and this presupposes tackling the issue in all biomes." https://lnkd.in/e7HFymmi

In 2022 at the Kunming-Montréal UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) the world has agreed to restore 30% of land and water habitats by 2030. After almost two years in review and discussions, yesterday EU Parliament has finally adopted the new EU Nature Restoration Law to comply with this agreement and to restore nature in Europe. As a background, over 80% of natural habitats in Europe are in poor shape and globally we have less than a quarter of animals left than we had in the 1970s. According to the law, EU Member States must restore 30% of habitats by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. Until 2030 priority should be given to the Natura 2000 areas (a network of over 27,000 protected zones that together are as big as Spain and Italy combined). Special goals are outlined for measurable progress to improve biodiversity in agricultural systems, peatland restoration, forest restoration (additional planting of 3 billion trees), rivers (turning 25,000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers) and urban spaces (ensuring that urban canopy coverage does not diminish). EU Commission that proposed this law predicts that every euro invested in this work will result in at least 8 euros back in benefits. It is worth noting that the text of the law has been significantly weakened due to resistance from a conservative coalition, who has even been trying to reject the compromised agreement but eventually failed by a tight margin (329 votes in favor, 275 against and 24 abstentions) saving the legislation. In the last minute the Irish delegation broke from their ranks and voted to support the law. Thank you Ireland 🇮🇪. The text will now be put to a final vote in the Council of the EU, which represents the 27 member countries, before the rules can enter into force. If adopted, Member States will have to submit detailed proposals for how they are planning to comply with this law. Then the real work begins. https://lnkd.in/dnVYHvfJ #environment #biodiversity #conservation #climatechange #cop15 #nature #eu #law

🌍 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞! 🏆 The 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize winners have been announced, celebrating seven remarkable leaders who have made significant strides in environmental conservation worldwide. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, which recognizes grassroots activists for their impactful efforts. Their achievements highlight the power of grassroots movements in combating environmental threats and promoting sustainable practices. Among the winners are: 🏆 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐠𝐮 𝐙𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, who successfully halted destructive seismic testing off the Eastern Cape, protecting marine biodiversity and cultural heritage. 🏆 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐥𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 led a campaign to preserve the Hasdeo Aranya forests from coal mining, 🏆 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔.𝐒. advocated for historic transportation regulations to reduce emissions. 🏆 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥 coordinated an international campaign that exposed the connection between beef production and illegal deforestation in Brazil, prompting significant changes in the industry. 🏆 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 blocked the development of the Waratah coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin, preserving vital ecosystems and Indigenous cultural heritage. 🏆 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧, led a grassroots campaign that resulted in the passage of a new law granting legal rights to the Mar Menor ecosystem in Spain, setting a precedent for environmental protection and civil society involvement. These inspiring individuals remind us that collective action can drive meaningful change and inspire hope for a sustainable future. Click on the following link to know more: https://lnkd.in/ef6AaHDs #sustainability #leadership #award #planet #environment

🇪🇺 EU's 'Nature Restoration Law': The Green Deal’s impact on global forests 🍃 The European Union is poised to ratify a historic piece of legislation that marks a significant commitment to restoring ecosystems. This move, forming part of the EU's Green Deal, will set a new global benchmark in forest management and biodiversity conservation. 🔍 Understanding the EU's Environmental Milestone: 1️⃣ Historic Legislation for Ecosystem Restoration: The European Commission's upcoming 'Nature Restoration Law' requires EU member states to restore at least 20% of land and seas by 2030. This ambitious legislation focuses on revitalising ecosystems and leveraging forests for carbon utilisation. 2️⃣ Biodiversity Bill Agreement: The European Parliament's agreement on this critical biodiversity bill aims to rewild EU land and water habitats. It aligns with global commitments made at #cop15, targeting the protection of 30% of the Earth's land and sea by 2030. 3️⃣ A Push Towards Carbon Neutrality: This legislation is a core component of Europe's strategy to become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. It addresses challenges like intensive agriculture, which is a major driver of biodiversity loss in Europe. 🌲 Impact on Europe's Forests: 🔸 The 'Nature Restoration Law' is crucial for Europe’s forests, which are currently facing challenges from climate change-induced threats like insects, diseases, and forest fires. 🔸 The EU's new Green Deal encourages member states to develop long-term forest plans, promoting sustainable management practices. 💡 Global Implications and Supply Chain 🔸 The European Commission's commitment under the Green Deal includes banning imports linked to deforestation and infringing indigenous rights, reshaping global supply chains for forest-based products. 🔸 With over 39% of the European land mass covered by forests, this law will significantly shape global forest conservation efforts and sustainable practices. 🔗 For a comprehensive analysis of the EU's 'Nature Restoration Law' and its far-reaching implications: https://lnkd.in/ewHR4nyB ❓ #questionforgroup: How can similar environmental policies be implemented globally to protect forests and biodiversity? What challenges and opportunities do such laws present for international trade and forest management? 👇 Share your thoughts on the EU's groundbreaking approach to ecosystem restoration and climate action. #naturerestorationlaw #eu #environmentalpolicy #climateaction #sustainability #biodiversity #forests #greendeal #woodcentral #globalforests #woodcentralau1

Spanish minister hails deal to save Andalucía wetlands as a model for green transition €1.4bn deal to protect Doñana national park will diversify local economy and stop farmers using aquifers to irrigate fruit crops A landmark agreement to safeguard one of Europe’s most important wetlands underscores the importance of harnessing public opinion to drive the green transition and help mitigate the effects of the climate emergency, the country’s environment minister has said. The Doñana in western Andalucía – whose marshes, forests and dunes extend across almost 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) and include a Unesco-listed national park – has been at the centre of a furious national and international row over recent years. Water supplies to the park have declined drastically over the past three decades because of climate breakdown, mining pollution, marsh drainage – and the boom in soft fruit cultivation. A deal reached in November by Spain’s environment minister, Teresa Ribera, for €1.4bn (£1.2bn) of investment to help protect the area and diversify the local economy away from its reliance on soft fruit however provided a ray of hope. It had been a year in which a plan from the Andalucían regional government for an amnesty for the farmers who have been illegally tapping its aquifer to irrigate strawberry farms in the area around the park had led to dire warnings from environmental groups, the European Union and supermarket chains. https://lnkd.in/euBuA_HH

🌳 Exciting news from the frontlines of forest conservation! 🌳 We're thrilled to announce that the LEAF coalition, a group that McKinsey has been a part of since 2021, has signed landmark agreements with the governments of Ghana and Costa Rica, marking the first global initiative to involve funds from multiple private and public sector buyers. This is a significant step forward in its mission to reverse tropical forest loss and scale finance to support forest governments. These agreements, likely worth over $60M combined, will see multiple public and private buyers from the LEAF Coalition, including McKinsey & Company, purchasing credits issued by Ghana and Costa Rica. All credits will meet the highest levels of environmental integrity and social safeguards, as per the Architecture for REDD+ Transaction’s (ART) The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES). We believe LEAF is a transformational platform to accelerate collective action to end tropical deforestation. Together, we can make a difference. 🌍💚 #COP28 #LEAFCoalition

Interesting reflection evidencing that "TNFD falls short of requiring sound action on biodiversity and human rights – which entails full transparency, accountability and exiting high-risk activities – not just high-level aggregate self-reporting that can’t even be verified against realities on the ground. If companies that have persistently failed to clean up their act on environmental and human rights issues are signing up we can assume it’s because they don’t see TNFD as challenging their current environmental or human rights practice.” #biodiversity #tnfd #sbtn #csrd #sustainability #biodiversityaction