N4C Weekly Briefing: October 5 - 11, 2022

The world spends billions to ‘protect’ Indigenous land. Only 17% goes to Indigenous peoples.

Grist, Joseph Lee, 6 October

Grist shares research from the Rights and Resources Initiative and Rainforest Foundation Norway—two nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting forests and Indigenous rights— that finds only 17 percent of global climate and conservation funding intended for Indigenous and local communities goes to projects led by Indigenous people. The article digs into the current disconnect between conservation finance and Indigenous peoples, but also highlights Shandia, a global financing platform for Indigenous-led projects created by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, as a potential solution. GreenBiz covers the growing movement amongst Indigenous communities to demand that climate finance systems change to provide them the ability to lead on solutions related to their communities. Nature explores how new scientific understanding and technology can help Indigenous peoples protect themselves and the Amazon rainforest.

Amazon loses London-sized area of rainforest in a month with Bolsonaro’s reign under threat

The Guardian, Tom Phillips, 7 October

The Guardian reports more hectares were affected by deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest than any other September on record, almost equal to the size of Greater London, according to Brazilian government data. Mongabay and Reuters also cover the increase in deforestation in September. CarbonBrief covers analysis from the University of Oxford, the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) that finds a Bolsonaro election loss could cut Brazilian Amazon deforestation by 89%. Mongabay reports that Brazilians elected a more conservative Congress in the Oct. 2 ballot, with supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro and the agribusiness lobby winning more seats in both the lower and upper houses. UOL columnist Carlos Madeiro notes that nine of the ten cities with the highest rate of Amazon deforestation within their municipality saw an increase in votes for Bolsonaro compared to the last presidential election.

TIME looks at the potential outcomes if presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) does win the presidential election at the end of the month as most pollsters expect. The article notes that Bolsonaro’s party will be the largest single party in both houses, and opposition parties of the right will now hold half the seats in Brazil’s lower house. Climate Home News reports that Lula's environmental spokesperson promised to update the country’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement and commit to ending deforestation if he is elected. Bloomberg carries a piece from opinion columnist David Fickling suggesting that even if Lula wins, the strong agribusiness lobby in Brazil may force him to allow continued environmental destruction in the Cerrado, Pantanal, and other regions in order to protect the Amazon.?

Valor Econ?mico covers the publication of a letter from Brazilian and international NGOs requesting that the OECD make its process of reviewing Brazil's attempt to join the forum transparent to ensure high integrity. Brazil has published an initial memorandum detailing how it is on the path to meeting OECD environmental and human rights standards, but the letter signatories claim this memorandum likely glosses over increased deforestation and policy failures in Brazil. The OECD will now conduct a review of Brazil's capability to meet OECD standards which require ending deforestation and protecting environmental defenders.

How urgent action to protect nature now will shield us from growing climate tipping points [Commentary]

Reuters, Johan Rockstr?m, 5 October

Reuters carries a commentary from Johan Rockstr?m, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, stating that averting the growing climate crisis is still possible, but only by harnessing the power of nature alongside rapid emissions reductions. He advocates for businesses to help lead the push to protect nature and ourselves in order to pave the road for more government action. Ecosystem Marketplace shares a piece directing the financial sector to utilize carbon credits that can provide flexibility for more efficient and impactful use of capital where low carbon portfolios are overvalued or if ESG strategies are failing to deliver meaningful climate change mitigation.?

Operation Rolling Blunder? From fracking to solar, government opens up new fronts in 'attack on nature'

BusinessGreen, James Murray, 10 October

BusinessGreen reviews UK Prime Minister Liz Truss's administration's proposals to block solar farms, revive fracking, and roll back planning rules further fuels the impression that the government is engaged in an 'attack on nature'. The Independent reports that the National Trust has set out seven red lines that the new government should not cross when it comes to environmental protections. The Guardian notes that Truss is facing a rural revolt against her plans to prioritise a “dash for economic growth” over nature protection and the environment including wildlife charities, Tory former ministers, and millions of ordinary people.

The Guardian also reports that some UK ministers hope to ban solar projects from most English farms, arguing that it impedes growth programmes and attempts to boost food production. The proposed changes would disrupt most new developments of the renewable energy source. The Los Angeles Times covers a new report from The Nature Conservancy that identified a pathway for renewable energy development to grow to the levels needed in the US to hit climate targets, while respecting nature and farmland. Bloomberg shares an opinion piece from columnist Adam Minter that the farming world is learning how to blend agriculture with renewable energy installations — and gaining on both ends.

Taskforce values nature-based markets at $7 trillion

GreenBiz, Amber Rolt, 4 October

GreenBiz reports a New Taskforce on Nature Markets study finds the emerging sector could be equivalent in size to the world's third-largest economy. Carbon Pulse shares that a new study estimates that Brazil can meet nearly half of global voluntary carbon credit demand by 2030. Carbon Pulse identifies several nature-based carbon credit projects in Africa that Egypt will aim to make a major part of financing discussions at COP27. Bloomberg reports that India's International Financial Services Centres Authority has recommended the development of a voluntary carbon market and the creation of a global climate alliance among other measures to grow the sustainable financing ecosystem. Carbon Pulse reviews how financial regulatory bodies in the US and Europe are aligning on climate disclosure rules including oversight of how carbon credits can be utilised in climate plans potentially increasing the integrity of the market. Carbon Pulse also reports that Gabon's plan to sell 90 million national-scale forest protection credits has a potential bidder willing to pay well above market price for the credits.?

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UNEP and Green Finance Institute announce a special new podcast series to highlight the role of finance and natural climate solutions in the run-up to COP27.

FAO publishes The State of the World's Forests 2022 report exploring the potential of three forest pathways for achieving green recovery and tackling environmental crises, including climate change and biodiversity loss against the backdrop of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

FAO shares a paper that identifies the technical and policy tools available for countries and stakeholders, as well as the steps needed, to effectively mainstream biodiversity in forestry.

Verra opens a public consultation for updates to all VCS Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation and/or Degradation methodologies that will close on the 6th of November.

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