Marina Silva, a prominent figure in Brazil's climate agenda, successfully reduced deforestation by over 50% during her tenure as Environment Minister and aims to eliminate it by 2030. Under her leadership, policies were implemented to combat forest fires and control deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado, with increased funding for enforcement operations. Despite facing challenges such as setbacks in legislation and policies favoring infrastructure projects like offshore oil drilling, Silva played a key role in creating conservation areas, implementing anti-deforestation strategies, and designing the Amazon Fund. Her reorganization of the Environment Ministry and federal agencies has left a lasting impact on Brazil's environmental efforts, making her a significant figure in the fight against climate change.
Author: Apnews
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Investors pour capital into Africa’s fast-growing e-mobility market
Electric vehicle transport financing is on the rise in Africa, with Spiro securing $50 million to expand its battery-swapping network, along with other e-mobility firms like Arc Ride and Gogo Electric receiving funding for clean transport solutions. Spiro intends to use the capital to extend its battery-swapping stations and advance technology for a greener future in Africa. Development financiers view electric mobility as both a climate solution and an industrialization opportunity on the continent, highlighting the potential for sustainable growth and reduced emissions in the region.
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Kenya launches a carbon registry to boost climate finance and credibility
Kenya has launched a national carbon registry to track carbon credit projects and attract foreign investment while ensuring local communities benefit, aligning with international standards to participate in global carbon markets with transparency. Germany is supporting Kenya's reforestation efforts and allocating 2.4 million euros to strengthen its carbon market readiness. The registry is part of broader efforts to build African institutions that can attract climate finance while protecting national and local interests, with over 80 carbon project concept notes already submitted. Centralized national registries like Kenya's are crucial for carbon markets, expected to be fully operational this year to prevent double counting and ensure integrity in climate financing under the Paris Climate agreement.
https://apnews.com/article/carbon-registry-climate-kenya-aad670f79c992c61422d2384c75bdbb4
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What can toughen Louisiana coast against worsening storms? 4 years and 30,000 trees
Volunteers in Meraux, Louisiana are planting thousands of trees like bald cypress and water tupelo to restore wetlands as a natural barrier against sea level rise and storms, aiming to bring back the ecosystem disrupted by human intervention. The closure of the Mississippi River—Gulf Outlet Canal in 2009 led to reforestation efforts by environmental groups, with the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective making significant progress towards a 30,000-tree goal. This project serves as a way to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and teach future generations about resilience and environmental restoration, showing that recovery is possible and resisting a 'doomerism' mindset. Rollin Black from the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development is involved in these efforts, finding joy in seeing kids participate and hoping to inspire them to stay in the city.