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TOP STORIES
Singapore president calls for integrating carbon, biodiversity credit markets
Integrating biodiversity and water credits into the voluntary carbon market (VCM) could help better address the existing funding gap on nature, the president of Singapore told an event at the ongoing World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday.
IAPB to help governments develop biodiversity credits after “tsunami of interest”
The International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) will support governments in embedding its framework in national policies as the next phase of its initiative to scale the market, following what it called a “tsunami of interests” in credits, co-chair told a webinar on Monday.
MARKET
Microsoft funds Swedish biodiversity credit project
A Swedish project that protects and restores valuable butterfly habitat is able to continue and expand after Microsoft provided funding for a local non-profit to buy all the biodiversity credits generated from the project over a two-year period.
Replanet considers landscape-scale biodiversity credit measurements
Project developer Replanet is considering how to make measuring biodiversity credits from landscape-scale initiatives of up to 300,000 hectares affordable, despite a lack of demand.
UK standards body closes consultations on domestic nature market framework
A UK national standards body on Friday closed a public consultation on the first nature market framework in the country, aimed at standardising how biodiversity benefits are measured and verified, while establishing requirements for high-quality metrics.
Expert questions marketing of biodiversity net gain units as voluntary credits
An academic has questioned the marketing of English biodiversity net gain (BNG) units as voluntary biodiversity credits due to issues with the metric.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Nature-positive transition could unlock $1.4 trillion across four sectors, WEF says
Taking steps to mitigate corporate impacts on nature and increasing investments in restoration efforts could unlock an estimated $1.4 trillion in business opportunities across the offshore wind, mining, ports, and automotive sectors, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).
POLICY
EU met 70% of its 2030 pledges on soil conservation, analysis shows
Nearly 70% of EU commitments on soil protection and restoration have been fulfilled to date, though some key measures still hang in the balance, according to an assessment released by the European Commission.
South Australia puts first Biodiversity Act out for consultations
The government of South Australia (SA) has opened public consultations on the draft text of the state’s first Biodiversity Act aimed at enhancing nature protection, including through establishing conservation targets and increasing penalties for environmental crimes.
Wales must improve nature protection by boosting investment, report says
The Welsh government must enhance its support for nature by spurring investment, following numerous examples of undelivered commitments, a parliamentary committee said on Monday in a report
New Irish govt programme fuels concerns over biodiversity protection
The Republic of Ireland’s incoming government coalition published this week a plan setting out the actions it aims to take over the next five years, with environmental organisations raising concerns over the lack of strong commitments on biodiversity protection and restoration.
Australia more than doubles annual land clearing rate in 2024, analysis finds
The Australian government approved the clearing of more than 25,000 hectares of threatened species habitat in 2024, more than double compared to the previous year, according to an analysis published Tuesday.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
Mammoth credits – US-based biotechnology and genetic engineering firm Colossal announced last week it secured $200 mln in its latest Series C funding round to bring back extinct species like the woolly mammoth. If the company will ever manage to reintroduce any of the species into their respective ecosystems, it is planning to sell biodiversity credits, it told TechCrunch.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Blueprint – The UAE governmental agency EAD, the real estate development company Aldar, and the conservation NGO WWF have joined forces to advance research on marine biodiversity protection. The partnership will focus on creating a blueprint for biodiversity stewardship that Aldar can implement across its portfolio and coastal development projects in Abu Dhabi to mitigate negative impacts on marine species and ecosystems. “Partnerships like this play a pivotal role in advancing our collective mission to study, preserve, and restore Abu Dhabi’s rich marine biodiversity,” said Ahmed Al Hashmi, executive director of the terrestrial and marine biodiversity office at EAD.
Ore-inspiring – A non-profit dedicated to achieving zero environmental harm from mining has been founded by organisations including UNEP and PRI. The South Africa-based Global Tailings Management Institute aims to drive the responsible management of mining facilities throughout their lifecycle. It will oversee an independent assessment process through which operations can be certified.
Cash cow – UK-based retailer Co-op has announced a £820,000 fund to support sustainable farming efforts in Britain, which will see farmers directly rewarded for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting nature on their farms across beef, lamb, and dairy sectors. Through the fund, farmers will be able to access sustainability payments above the price they are already paid for their products. The first project will see Co-op supporting 140 farmers to reduce carbon emissions and baseline biodiversity and soil health, in partnership with the Soil Association Exchange.
POLICY
Recovery – Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has established a committee aimed at advancing the conservation of endangered aquatic species throughout the country. The committee, which will bring together members of fishing associations, conservation NGOs, scientists, and government agencies, will draft recovery plans for aquatic species threatened with extinction. These plans will also serve as a basis for national legislation and policies, including regulations for fisheries management, as stated by the ministry.
A green year – Uzbekistan has announced the launch of two projects worth $6.5 mln in partnership with the UN Development Programme to kick off the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy” initiative. The first one is aimed at developing an updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework, while the second one will be focused on creating good conditions for ecosystem restoration.
SCIENCE & TECH
Bigfootprint – A database listing the estimated impacts on ecosystem condition of countries has been developed by the Biodiversity Footprint Intelligence Company (BioInt). Russia, Australia, Brazil, the US, and Canada topped the list. The resource estimated the loss of biodiversity over 2023 using mean species abundance. The figures are based on 2020 data, intended to stimulate discussions, but the real figures are likely to differ, said Josh Berger, CEO of BioInt on LinkedIn.
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