The economic advantages of oil palm cultivation are publicised without warnings about changes in land tenure, the environmental impacts, labour costs, the use of chemicals and the depletion of water resources, and the fact that oil palm is simply unsuited to Northeast India’s terrain, climate, ecology, available infrastructure, and the culture of the region.
By Rupa Chinai & Dr. Ravi Chellam
View More Expansion of Oil Palm plantations in Northeast India: a disaster in the making
The European Union has just approved new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil sales, following the United States’ Sept. 30 announcement of new economic sanctions. Both announcements are in response to Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine. However, because there are still countries willing to purchase Russia’s petroleum products, sanctions are increasing Russia’s revenue, not decreasing it.
By Noha Razek and Brian McQuinn
View More Sanctions on Russia are increasing, not decreasing, its revenue
In a crucial meeting for tackling the climate crisis, almost 200 countries will come together in Egypt at the start of November for a “Conference of the Parties”, or COP27. And clearly, these talks are a pivotal moment for the planet, as we risk running out of time in our efforts to avoid climate catastrophe. The question remains whether this is just a talkfest, or does the meeting actually matter?
View More Almost 200 nations are set to tackle climate change at COP27 in Egypt. Is this just a talkfest, or does the meeting actually matter?
If the Amazon rainforest becomes a savanna, there will be reverberations in the climates of South America, the Caribbean, North America and across the globe. Indigenous defenders stand between illegal roads and survival of the Amazon rainforest – elections in Brazil and Peru could be a turning point.
View More Indigenous defenders stand between illegal roads and survival of the Amazon rainforest
In recent years, they have added visions for how climate change might be addressed, including scenarios that they claim are consistent with the international Paris climate agreement. These scenarios are hugely influential. They are used by companies making investment decisions and, importantly, by policymakers as a basis for their decisions.
By Robert Brecha, Gaurav Ganti
View More Influential oil company scenarios for combating climate change don’t actually meet the Paris Agreement goals, our new analysis shows
The most widely publicized threat to the Amazonian rainforest is deforestation. A new study by European scientists released March 7, 2022, finds that tree clearing and less rainfall over the past 20 years have left over 75% of the region increasingly less resilient to disturbances, suggesting the rainforest may be nearing a tipping point for dieback.
By Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, Cynthia S. Simmons, Robert T. Walker
View More The great Amazon land grab – how Brazil’s government is clearing the way for deforestation
From forbidding moonscape to verdant grassland in a decade. Here are the benefits of China investing in nature. Read more about the New Nature Economy Insight Report – January 2022 published by the World Economic Forum
View More Seizing Business Opportunities in China’s Transition Towards a Nature-positive Economy
So what have we learnt from two weeks of leaders’ statements, massive protests and side deals on coal, stopping fossil fuel finance and deforestation, plus the final signed Glasgow Climate Pact? From phasing out coal to carbon market loopholes, here is what you need to know.
By Simon Lewis & Mark Maslin
View More Five things you need to know about the Glasgow Climate PactYou cannot copy content of this page