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TOP STORIES
FEATURE: New round of NDCs ‘unprecedented opportunity’ to integrate nature into climate action
The update of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement poses an unprecedented opportunity to integrate nature protection into countries’ climate strategies, as early submissions have sparked hope despite the need for stronger targets, experts told Carbon Pulse.
BRIEFING: Chile consults on new biodiversity offsetting regulation
Chile last week launched the public consultation period for a new regulation that seeks to codify and clarify an existing but fledgling mandatory biodiversity offsets scheme.
MARKET
UK to launch Nature Market Accelerator as part of green finance push
The UK has announced it is launching a Nature Market Accelerator to stimulate green financing for activities that boost biodiversity, ranging from biodiversity net gain (BNG) to voluntary carbon markets.
Almost all businesses struggling with UK biodiversity net gain, survey suggests
Some 92% of businesses have found the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG) in England difficult, causing development delays, a small survey has suggested.
French organisation to develop best practices for biodiversity markets in tropical forests
A France-based organisation involved in the emerging biodiversity market has set up an expert group with the aim of expanding its work to tropical forests.
INTERVIEW: Ecuadorian association sees potential for biodiversity credits in push to legalise environmental markets
An Ecuadorian association is pushing for a law to legalise voluntary environmental markets in the country, with the aim of having it presented again by October after it was blocked last year, its president told Carbon Pulse.
Conservation body awarded contract to develop Nature Repair Market method
An Australian conservation alliance has been awarded a contract to develop a permanent protection on private land method under the government’s Nature Repair Market (NRM).
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Pension investor launches environmental market fund with £500-mln target
A UK public sector pension provider has launched a fund for investing in nature and climate markets with a target raise of £500 million ($657 mln).
OECD forecasts ocean economy decline amid biodiversity loss
The global ocean economy could decline by 20% below 2020 levels by mid-century due to multiple threats, including climate change and biodiversity loss, according to the OECD.
POLICY
Nature-positive investments largely outsized by harmful spending in national budgets, study shows
Investments in activities harmful to nature are significantly outsizing nature-positive ones globally, with high-income countries performing better domestically but falling short of supporting environmental efforts abroad, a study has shown.
EU advisory group recommends including nature-based solutions in taxonomy
An EU-commissioned advisory group has recommended including more nature-based solutions (NbS) in its list of climate-related sustainable investment activities to stop investors bypassing them.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
On the rise – Brazil’s REDD+ carbon credits are expected to rise to $16 per tonne by 2035 and play a role in determining the marginal price of nature-based solutions (NbS) credits, but this impact will depend on the country’s ability to reduce its own emissions, according to a new report. According to BloombergNEF’s Brazil Transition Factbook 2025, published Monday, the country could represent the world’s top supplier of nature-based carbon credits from 2024-50, with the potential to generate up to 30.5 bln units by 2050 – more than double the amount of any other country. Of this potential, the report expects 75% to come from REDD+ projects, while reforestation could account for 23%, and sustainable agriculture for 2%. (Carbon Pulse)
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Reforestation – Hyundai Motor North America has pledged to plant an additional 110,000 trees in California, US, as part of its collaboration with environmental non-profit One Tree Planted. The announcement followed the wildfires that hit California earlier this year, highlighting the need to advance reforestation efforts across the state, said the company. The newly announced initiative brings the total number of trees planted in the region to 750,000 since the partnership was announced in 2022.
Grant – The Walmart Foundation has awarded non-profit CDP a two-year grant of $1 mln to advance nature-positive landscape solutions. The funding will support efforts to enhance corporate engagement in biodiversity protection. “With the Walmart Foundation’s support, we can accelerate adoption, enhance reporting, and empower businesses, investors, and governments to take meaningful, large-scale action to combat deforestation, restore ecosystems, and build a nature-positive future,” said Kari Stoever, chief growth officer at CDP.
AdvertSaver – The UK’s advertising watchdog has censured the advertisements of laundry pod company OceanSaver for claiming its products were plastic free and biodegradable. The company had not provided sufficient evidence to show that their product did not degrade into microplastics that could harm marine life, the Advertising Standards Authority said. OceanSaver’s online and TV advertisements for its pods are forbidden from appearing again with the claims. (The Grocer)
POLICY
Clean Nile – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has partnered with the Nile Basin Initiative to reduce plastic pollution levels in the Nile Basin. The initiative, funded by the German organisation GIZ, aims to identify sources of plastic pollution, implement waste management practices, and raise awareness about plastic pollution in rivers. As part of the project, UNEP and the Nile Basin Initiative hosted a workshop in February, stressing the importance of harmonising methodologies and sharing monitoring data.
Mediterranean alliance – The International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Spanish environmental ministry have renewed their collaboration for promoting nature conservation both in the Mediterranean region and globally. This year, the partnership will focus on priority areas including restoring terrestrial and marine ecosystems, mainstreaming biodiversity into agricultural practices, and managing invasive alien species, they said during a recent meeting in Madrid.
COP17 prep – Armenia has officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative project, a four-year initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility, and implemented by the UN Development Programme, that aims to increase funding for biodiversity conservation in the country. BIOFIN will develop a national biodiversity finance plan to identify funding gaps, secure additional resources, and introduce innovative financing mechanisms. Armenia aims to become a leader in biodiversity finance as it prepares to host the COP17 UN biodiversity summit in 2026.
Scottish river – Scottish government agency NatureScot has granted more than £1.3 mln to 12 nature restoration projects across the country to help enhance biodiversity while tackling climate change impacts. For example, one of the initiatives includes £420,000 to create a network of nature-rich sites for wildlife around the River Leven in Fife. Since its launch in 2021, NatureScot’s £65 mln Nature Restoration Fund has supported more than 240 projects.
PROJECTS
Bogged down – A farmer has agreed to rewet 11 ha of peatland in County Clare, Republic of Ireland in an effort to improve conditions for biodiversity. The project is a collaborative effort between local farmer Sean Tubridy, Knocknahila Community Group, and the county council. “Rewetting allows the bog to do what it does best in growing a wide variety of mosses and plants, which, in turn, sequester carbon and also improve the environment for hen harrier, merlin, larks and other birds,” said Tubridy.
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