Presenting Biodiversity Pulse, Carbon Pulse’s free newsletter on the biodiversity market. It’s a twice-weekly summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. Subscribe here
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TOP STORIES
Forestry investor prepares African portfolio for biodiversity credits
Australia-headquartered asset manager New Forests is preparing to potentially generate biodiversity credits by gathering nature metrics across 37,800 hectares in three African countries, Carbon Pulse has learned.
Deadlock over funding frustrates last CBD biodiversity talks before COP16
The latest Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya wrapped up on Wednesday with limited progress on key topics on the agenda, as much work remains to be done at this year’s UN biodiversity summit.
MARKET
Swedish biodiversity credit developer revamps methodology, launches five more pilot projects
Swedish company Qarlbo Biodiversity has revamped the methodology that saw a local bank last year pick up Europe’s first voluntary biodiversity credits and on Thursday announced five new pilot projects along with plans to invest in projects globally.
Tech firms mull funding biodiversity credit methodologies
An environmental impact platform and a payments network have closed their call for proposals set to identify innovative finance projects, saying they seek to fund initiatives in the emerging biodiversity credit market.
Malaysian developer launches plastic waste collection, recycling methodology
A Kuala Lumpur-based carbon offset developer has launched a plastic waste collection and recycling methodology in a bid to establish itself in the emerging plastic credit market.
CDC Biodiversite flags complexity of brokers trading biodiversity credits
Trading biodiversity credits through agents, rather than directly from project developers, would create more obstacles for the market to overcome, data consultancy CDC Biodiversite has said.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
China sets up $210-mln biodiversity fund for developing nations
China has launched the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, with the signing of the new venture witnessed by Chinese environmental officials and UN agencies this week after first establishing the framework over two years ago.
Biodiversity footprint provider expects to double clients again
French data company Iceberg Data Lab expects to double the number of clients using its products, including the Corporate Biodiversity Footprints (CBF), for a second time over the next year.
UNDP, GEF launch $135-mln initiative to arrest environmental degradation in small island states
The UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on Tuesday launched the Blue and Green Islands Integrated Program to scale up nature-based solutions in 15 Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
SBTN appoints external validator for corporate nature targets
The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), a voluntary initiative for companies to set science-based targets related to their impacts on nature, has appointed an independent Accountability Accelerator to validate targets for an interim period of up to three years.
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
Canadian risk experts call for climate frameworks to address nature
A Canadian group of risk experts have called on the country’s government, regulators, and business leaders to ensure their climate risk frameworks include nature-related issues.
POLICY
Australian business, environmental groups dunk on govt’s new environment legislation
The federal government on Wednesday introduced legislation to establish national environmental watchdog and information gathering bodies, but the move has been criticised by business and environmental groups alike, highlighting deep divisions in Australia’s nature reform space.
SCIENCE & TECH
Marine protected areas fail to protect seafloor biodiversity activity, study says
Conservation efforts have largely failed to protect seafloor invertebrate animals, including worms, clams, and shrimps, which are cited as playing a critical role in mediating the health of the ocean, a paper has said.
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CONFERENCE
The HackSummit, Europe’s largest gathering of ClimateTech builders and investors is coming to Lausanne, Switzerland on June 13-14. And you’re invited. You’ll be in great company with 1,500 of the brightest minds in climate and biodiversity, including Marty Odlin of Running Tide, Kevin Webb of Superorganism, Zoe Balmforth of Pivotal, Leo Caprez of BrainForest and Sonja Stuchtey of The Landbanking Group. And it’ll probably be the most fun you’ll have at a ClimateTech Summit this year. Ready to join? Use the code CARBONPULSE20 to save 20% on your pass.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
Nature-based investments – A Toronto-based carbon and precious metals royalty and streaming company announced Q1 results for 2024 on Wednesday, with portfolio updates on its offset joint venture interests and a C$200 mln ($146 mln) investment pipeline in nature-based offset projects. Star Royalties, through its subsidiary Green Star Royalties (Green Star), was also looking to expand its North American nature-based offset pipeline to approximately 50 projects with an aggregate capital requirement of over C$200 mln. (Carbon Pulse)
Biodiversity co-benefits – The Philippine government and a French land-based carbon project developer Adryada signed an agreement Wednesday to restore 90,000 ha of degraded forest in the northwest of Samar Island’s natural park, in partnership with a local bamboo firm. The project will generate what Adryada calls “high quality” carbon credits that will “maximise the positive impacts on biodiversity”. Like other Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines also plans a carbon credit market to help it meet climate goals and attract foreign investment. (Carbon Pulse)
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Business defends nature – A group of businesses and industries have written a letter urging EU member states to adopt the Nature Restoration Law, a EU bill that aims to protect and restore degraded natural habitats in the bloc. The law has passed all legislative hurdles but failed to receive the final approval from the EU council after a last minute U-turn of a number of EU member states. The industries, which include L’Occitane, Iberdrola, H&M Group and many others, state the law is vital to protect natural habitats. The alarming loss of natural habitats puts human livelihoods and the foundations of the EU’s economic activities at risk, the letter states.
POLICY
Open call – The International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German federal government has launched a call for proposals to fund projects aimed at supporting Colombia’s climate action and biodiversity goals. IKI plans to allocate €40-50 mln to two separate projects, each focusing on one of the thematic priorities identified by the initiative – the roll-out of renewable energies and landscape restoration. Each project will receive €20-25 mln. The deadline for submissions is Sep. 3.
Trade up – The UN biodiversity conference COP16 in Colombia will feature its first-ever ‘trade day’, UNCTAD said in a press release. The day will celebrate the role of trade in protecting biodiversity while promoting sustainable development and sustaining livelihoods, jointly organised by UNCTAD, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the World Trade Organization, among others.
Bird is the word – Canada will support birds in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru, with a $15 mln donation through the Conserve Birds programme, according to The Tico Times. The donation seeks to protect several key ecosystems, safeguarding approximately 50 species of migratory birds, a Canadian minister said.
SCIENCE & TECH
Cerrado’s calling – In 2023, the deforestation rate in the Brazilian Cerrado overtook that of the Amazon for the first time since 2019, with the savannah becoming the worst affected biome in the country, according to the annual report of climate consortium MapBiomas Network. More than 1.11 mln ha were destroyed in the Cerrado during 2023, up by 68% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, deforestation in the Amazon decreased by 62.2%.
300 more – The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) has added over 300 key biodiversity areas (KBAs) to its risk screening platform. The update includes the reevaluation of existing sites as well as the identification of 282 animal and plant species which trigger KBA status. The sites span 30 countries, including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon. IBAT said that the new information will provide its users with a more comprehensive understanding of their impact on biodiversity, allowing them to make informed decisions related to nature.
Oceans of data – Global data repositories the Ocean Biodiversity Information System and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility have agreed to a joint strategy and action plan. The partnership aims to deepen their collaboration, improve the flows of high-quality data about marine biodiversity, and support research on the world’s oceans, they said in a joint press release on Tuesday.
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