Climate Change Solutions

Congo's war isn’t just killing people—it’s tearing down forests, silencing activists, and fueling an illicit trade worth millions. The resurgence of the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 🇨🇩 has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and thousands killed. Yet another casualty has received less attention: the environment. The conflict is exacerbating deforestation, undermining conservation efforts, and fueling the illicit exploitation of natural resources. The Albertine Rift, home to endangered eastern lowland and mountain gorillas, is under severe pressure. Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—have become battlegrounds. Since late 2021, M23 has taken control of towns surrounding Virunga, including Rutshuru, Rwindi, and Masisi, while in February 2025, it pushed into Kahuzi-Biega, seizing areas adjacent to the park’s highland sector. ⚠️ Deforestation in Virunga has accelerated: In 2023, 1,222 hectares of tree cover were lost in a charcoal production zone, more than double the annual average of 571 hectares from 2019-2022. ⚠️ Kahuzi-Biega’s forests are following suit: The same year, deforestation in its charcoal production zone surged to 1,171 hectares , up from 521 hectares annually over the previous four years. ⚠️ Charcoal demand is a key driver: With 800,000 displaced people arriving in Goma, the price of charcoal has spiked, shifting supply chains from Virunga to Kahuzi-Biega. Armed groups have long profited from the region’s natural wealth. The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) previously controlled much of Virunga’s charcoal trade but M23’s territorial gains have disrupted this balance. The group now levies taxes on charcoal and timber transport. In Kahuzi-Biega, illegal logging is surging, facilitated by newly constructed ports on Lake Kivu. While M23 touts itself as a pro-conservation force, its environmental record is contradictory. It has banned charcoal production in some areas while profiting from the timber trade elsewhere. Meanwhile, park rangers struggle to operate: since 1996, over 200 have been killed. Caught in the crossfire are Indigenous groups such as the Batwa, forcibly displaced by the conflict and unable to access their forests for sustenance. Activists attempting to expose illicit extraction have been silenced, some fleeing, others disappearing. The future of DRC’s forests—and those who depend on them—hangs in the balance. THE WAR 📰 NGOs flee (Elodie Toto): https://mongabay.cc/C8aqxx 📰 The environmental toll (Fergus O’Leary Simpson, Joel Masselink, Lara Collart): https://mongabay.cc/3p5AcP 📰 Toll on Indigenous people (Aimable TWAHIRWA): https://mongabay.cc/c5QGnY 📰 Key factors (John Cannon): https://mongabay.cc/ZMwBNz

🌍 How can humanity continue to develop without destroying the foundations of life on Earth? A major new study, co-authored by the PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, charts a scientific path forward — and warns of the cost of inaction. Business-as-usual leads to ongoing deterioration in climate, biodiversity, freshwater, and nutrient cycles. But when ambitious climate policy is paired with systemic sustainability measures — like shifting to a low-meat diet, halving food waste, reforesting land, and managing water and nutrients efficiently — the damage can be halted, even reversed. By 2050, the planet can return to 2015-level conditions. By 2100, Earth systems could begin to recover significantly. 🧭 This study combines the planetary boundaries framework with integrated climate models to create a navigation system for decision-makers. At the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), we emphasize the power of climate services — turning science into actionable policy — to help countries and companies manage these risks, anticipate disruptions, and build long-term resilience. We need coordinated global action, driven by data and grounded in science. Because protecting our future means safeguarding the systems that sustain life. The tools are here. The science is clear. The time is now. https://lnkd.in/eVuR9yDu

✍ The updated Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting have just been released! University of Oxford researchers have been developing this valuable and accessible guide to NZ-aligned offsetting. It provides key definitions, explores different types of offsets, and provides principles for NZ-aligned offsetting. Principle 1: Cut emissions, ensure the environmental integrity of credits used to achieve net zero, and regularly revise your offsetting strategy as best practice evolves Principle 2: Transition to carbon removal offsetting for any residual emissions by the global net zero target date Principle 3: Shift to removals with durable storage (low risk of reversal) to compensate residual emissions by the net zero target date Principle 4: Support the development of innovative and integrated approaches to achieving net zero https://lnkd.in/eb6b-YEv #netzero #climate #carboncredits #carbonoffsets #decarbonization #ccs #cdr #emissions #avoidedemissions #carbonremoval

"The Global Fashion Summit, which is typically dominated by large brands offering up a relentlessly optimistic prognosis on the industry’s climate efforts, was unusually downbeat this year... To be sure, advocates for a greener, kinder fashion industry have quietly acknowledged that the movement was struggling for a while. But they held out hope that moves to toughen up regulation would keep forcing things forward. This year, that has all but evaporated," writes Sarah Kent for The Business of Fashion following last week's event. It would be lying to say this wasn't a really visceral feeling in Copenhagen this year. It was a sombre affair with a lot of talk about regulatory rollbacks, team cuts and Trump's tariffs. There were also a lot of people noticeably absent, which Sarah puts down to "squeezed travel budgets and fear (few executives appeared willing to weigh in on an increasingly politically charged topic where there is little positive to say". Her story is, I feel, a really important read right now. While we clamour on about action over conversation, even the conversation about action is getting tough when the environment in which we're operating is under so much pressure. https://lnkd.in/gr-gBBdU Rather than just a pessimistic post, however, I want to point to another piece in BoF last week by Maxine Bédat, which is so central to addressing all of this. "Dear Fashion CEOs, Stop Undermining Climate Action" she calls for in her Op-Ed. https://lnkd.in/gwNCuj22 "In a period of economic and political uncertainty, businesses are stepping back, greenhushing and deprioritising climate programmes. It is clear change won’t come without political support. Real climate leadership from brands means recognising this, speaking out and calling for regulatory change. Instead, many trade groups — including those that represent brands with publicly progressive climate policies — are actively lobbying to undermine tougher environmental regulations, leaning into the political narrative that stiffer oversight is bad for business," she writes. She calls for the industry to not only navigate the turbulence but show up in the storm and lead. The adoption of the French fast fashion bill this week, even in the face of huge lobbying against it, is a ray of light showing that it CAN be done. #sustainablefashion #policy #advocacy #lobbying #sustainability Pictured: On stage at GFS talking "reimagining product realities" exploring how textile waste can not only be addressed and reduced, but valorised. Huge kudos especially to Yayra Agbofah from THE REVIVAL in Ghana for just massively calling out how our flooding of such second hand markets is a failure of the system we're in, not to mention how many solutions are already in action in the Global South if we are willing to work together on them.

In this Science study ( 👉 https://lnkd.in/er4CDurn, see also here article in Financial Times about it👉https://lnkd.in/enxcG69K) , researchers analyzed 1,500 climate policies implemented across 41 countries between 1998 and 2022. The goal? To identify which policies truly work in reducing emissions. Here’s what they found: 🔘 Successful Policy Interventions: 63 policies led to significant emission reductions, cutting between 0.6 and 1.8 billion metric tonnes of CO2. ✅ 🔘 Price-Based Instruments: Carbon pricing and emission trading schemes were particularly effective. 💰 🔘 In developed economies, pricing stands out individually, with 20% out of all successful detected interventions being associated with pricing individually. Yet subsidies are the most complementary instrument, especially in combination with pricing (33%). By contrast, in developing economies regulation is the most powerful policy.  🔘 Policy Mixes: Combining policies, especially market-based ones, with regulatory measures led to greater success. 🔄 🔘 Sector-Specific Findings: Different sectors (e.g., buildings, transport) responded better to specific policy types. 🏢🚗 In the FT article, there’s some caution about the findings: it might take longer than the study suggests for policy interventions to show success ⏳. For me, the key takeaways are: 🔹 Policy Mix is Essential: To be truly effective, a combination of policies is necessary 🎯. 🔹 Context Matters: Effective policy mixes vary by sector and economic context 🌍. 🔹 Practical Over Perfect: Instead of seeking the "perfect" policy mix, focus on taking action. It's too complex to aim for perfection—just strive to make a difference 💪.

Comparison of net-zero targets in global standards 🌎 In the journey to net-zero emissions, businesses encounter a range of frameworks that set benchmarks for credible climate commitments. A recent comparative analysis of major standards—including the UN High-Level Expert Group, ISO, Race to Zero, and SBTi—highlights five key dimensions critical to setting effective, science-aligned net-zero targets. Examining these points of convergence and divergence offers insight into building robust net-zero strategies. Emission Scope Coverage: Comprehensive frameworks require covering direct (Scope 1), indirect (Scope 2), and value chain emissions (Scope 3) alongside non-GHG climate effects, ensuring that significant emissions are included. Interim Targets and Milestones: Regular interim targets—often in 5-year intervals—are essential for tracking progress and aligning companies with long-term climate goals. These milestones foster accountability and support incremental reduction. 1.5°C-Aligned Reductions: To maintain credibility, frameworks mandate reductions in line with 1.5°C pathways. Minimum reduction requirements prioritize substantial action, limiting the overuse of offsets. Transition Plans for 1.5°C Alignment: Effective net-zero pledges include transition plans detailing near-term actions, fossil fuel phase-outs, and alignment of advocacy efforts with climate goals. This dimension emphasizes operational readiness for a low-carbon economy. Carbon Offsetting and Removals: Approaches to offsetting vary, with some frameworks allowing limited offsets only after reductions within the value chain. Where offsets are used, quality and integrity are prioritized. Adhering to these five dimensions promotes transparency and rigor in corporate climate commitments, aligning with the IPCC’s findings on the importance of deep emissions reductions to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This comparison was published last year, so some updates or changes may now apply to certain standards. However, it remains a valuable tool for businesses seeking to align their net-zero targets with established guidelines. Source: Net Zero Tracker #climate #netzero #decarbonization #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction

Vietnam just turned agricultural waste into climate control — and it’s brilliant. While many countries spend millions on air-conditioning classrooms, educators in Vietnam found a smarter solution right under their feet. Their secret weapon? Coconut husks — the fibrous waste usually discarded after harvesting. These husks are now being transformed into natural insulation panels that keep classrooms up to 6°C cooler without using a single unit of electricity. The science is elegantly simple: the fibers trap air, reduce heat transfer, and improve ventilation — delivering passive cooling that’s affordable, scalable, and climate-friendly. This innovation shows that effective climate solutions don’t always require complex technology. Sometimes, they come from rethinking waste as a resource. Vietnam’s approach is a powerful reminder: sustainability works best when it’s local, low-cost, and rooted in nature. #ClimateInnovation #PassiveCooling #SustainableEducation #CircularEconomy #VietnamInnovation #LowEnergySolutions #GreenDesign #GlobalCitizenship

Only a fraction of climate policy interventions produces significant results, according to a big study published in 'Science' yesterday. The study assessed 1500 policies (e.g., changes in subsidies and taxes) implemented between 1998 and 2022 across 41 countries. Only 63 policies showed large effects on reduced emissions (so-called 'breaks'). ❗We have a 'climate ambition gap' (policies do not aim high enough), but we also have a significant 'climate outcome gap' (those policies that are implemented often do not produce significant enough results). ❗ Key take aways: 1️⃣ Taxation and price incentives are by far the most effective policy instruments to achieve emission breaks. "It [taxation] stands out as the only policy instrument that achieves near equal or larger effect size as a stand-alone policy across all sectors." 2️⃣ Successful emissions reductions usually rely on mixes of different interventions (with tax and price incentives being part of the mix). Market-based instruments and regulations (e.g., product bans) need to be aligned and work together (e.g., banning fossil cars, increasing the price of gasoline, and subsidising e-mobility). 3️⃣ Most successful policy interventions occur in the building sector, followed by transport , industry, and electricity. Success rates vary strongly by sector and policymakers should therefore contextualise interventions. Successful climate policies need the right mix of instruments and have to include taxation and pricing measures to show significant outcomes! Full study (open access): https://lnkd.in/d7GdU6v3 #climatechange, #sustainability, #esg

I was quoted in last week's Financial Times on the shifting climate debate surrounding Mark Carney in Canada.   The debate reflects a familiar tension. Governments are asked to balance climate ambition with short-term economic resilience, energy security, trade competitiveness, and domestic political reality. Some of these trade-offs are real. Others are shaped by legacy systems and vested interests that define the boundaries of what feels possible. Anyone who has worked at the intersection of markets and policy will recognise how hard these forces can be to shift.   The real question here is one of time horizons. Strategies designed to stabilise the present also shape the future, often in ways that are difficult to unwind.   From a climate science perspective, expanding production and locking in long-lived fossil infrastructure is a high-stakes gamble. It may buy some short-term stability, but it postpones the deeper transformation needed to build economies that are genuinely clean, competitive, and resilient, at a moment when the remaining margin for delay has all but disappeared.   Net positive leadership recognises the need for compromise but securing today cannot come at the expense of tomorrow.   Mark Carney brings a rare grasp of climate risk and economic reality, the real test is whether his balancing act will become a bridge to transformation, not a justification for delay. https://lnkd.in/eysjRfCv?

Mangroves are the most undervalued infrastructure on Earth. These coastal forests deliver $88,000 per hectare in risk reduction value. That's 5x cheaper than building traditional sea walls. ↳ Store 4x more carbon than rainforests per hectare ↳ Reduce storm surge wave heights by 70% ↳ Support 80% of global commercial fish species ↳ Filter pollutants from coastal waters ↳ Protect communities from rising seas But we're losing them at 3x the rate of other forests. Their complex root systems create natural seawalls while capturing carbon and nurturing marine life. One system, multiple returns. For investors and planners looking at coastal resilience, mangroves offer proven, measurable impact. What's stopping us from scaling nature's most efficient climate solution?