A new report concludes that the benefits of protecting 30% of the world's land and ocean outweigh the costs by a factor of at least 5:1.COVID-19 and other zoonotic diseases are the direct result of the over-exploitation of nature and resources.Investing in nature and measures to prevent climate change would mean short-term net costs, but would be offset by financial benefits over time. In 2020, humanity is living the consequences of our broken re...

The big idea The ocean plays a major role in the global carbon cycle. The driving force comes from tiny plankton that produce organic carbon through photosynthesis, like plants on land. When plankton die or are consumed, a set of processes known as the biological carbon pump carries sinking particles of carbon from the surface to the deep ocean in a process known as marine snowfall. Naturalist and writer Rachel Carson called it the "most stupendo...

Danish company A.P. Moller-Maersk has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.It will team up with other industry leaders to set up a research center to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping industry.The center will be based in Denmark and combine the knowledge from industry experts, academia and regulators.Shipping carries around 80% of global trade, and is directly responsible for 3% of worldwide emissions. The world's largest container ...

The coronavirus pandemic, suspected of originating in bats and pangolins, has brought the risk of viruses that jump from wildlife to humans into stark focus. These leaps often happen at the edges of the world's tropical forests, where deforestation is increasingly bringing people into contact with animals' natural habitats. Yellow fever, malaria, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Ebola – all of these pathogens have spilled over from one species to ...

Trees remove carbon from the atmosphere when they are living, but release large quantities when they die.Scientists predict that just a 2˚C could push most tropical rainforests above their safe 'heat threshold' As they photosynthesise and grow, tropical forests remove enormous amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, reducing global warming. However, forests are also themselves affected by this warming. If it gets too hot or too dry, trees will gro...

World Economic Forum launches the 'Great Reset' initiative for a better world after the pandemic.The IMF backs the transition to a green economy and calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies. Now is the time to end fossil fuel subsidies and create a greener, fairer economy for the future, argued Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, at a World Economic Forum virtual meeting. Speaking at the launch of the "Great Reset", the Forum's g...

Brussels/Frankfurt – Greenpeace analysis shows that between mid-March and mid-May 2020, as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, the European Central Bank (ECB) purchased corporate bonds worth almost €30 billion. This included the injection of over €7.6 billion into fossil fuels. With the purchase of bonds from just seven big polluters, the ECB contributed an estimated 11.2 millions tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, which ...

Although the coronavirus pandemic has dominated recent headlines, climate change hasn't gone away. Many experts are calling for a "green" economic recovery that directs investments into low-carbon energy sources and technologies. Buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption in the U.S., compared to 32% for industry and 28% for transportation. States and cities with ambitious climate action plans are working to reduce emissions from the b...

There is a misperception that nature is getting a break during the COVID-19 pandemic.Instead, many rural areas in the tropics are facing increased pressure from land-grabbing, deforestation, illegal mining and wildlife poaching.To respond to this crisis of human health, the economy, the climate and biodiversity, we need solutions that build resilient societies for the long term. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, global media is reporting on ...

Biodiversity is critically important to human health, economies and livelihoods.Humans have caused the loss of 83% of all wild animals and half of all plants.To mark the International Day for Biodiversity, here are five reasons why biodiversity matters to humans – and why we need to protect it. Biodiversity is critically important – to your health, to your safety and, probably, to your business or livelihood. But biodiversity – the diversity with...