Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: FALO & Nature-Based Carbon Removal

Cut Emissions & Remove Carbon:
– Shift Agriculture Practices
– Protect & Manage Ecosystems
– Biomass Carbon Removal & Storage

When The Heat Is On: Stories of Action and Impact – Global Center on Adaptation

The Heat Is On campaign, launched by the Global Center on Adaptation, aims to spotlight proven adaptation solutions to combat extreme heat, such as early warning systems and nature-based solutions. These initiatives have already saved lives, protected livelihoods, and absorbed CO2 emissions. The campaign has successfully connected policymakers, practitioners, and communities globally, building momentum for adaptation action. At COP30 in Belém, the campaign helped elevate adaptation on par with mitigation, leading to a decision to triple adaptation finance under the Belém Package. Accelerating adaptation action, scaling solutions, and protecting communities from extreme heat must remain a global priority.

https://gca.org/when-the-heat-is-on-stories-of-action-and-impact/

December 19, 2025
Congo’s communities are creating a 1-million-hectare biodiversity corridor

Strong Roots Congo is working to create a 1-million-hectare corridor between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve in the DRC by securing community forest concessions. The project aims to rectify past displacements caused by the creation of the national park and engage communities in conservation. Despite challenges, the initiative has secured 23 community forest concessions covering nearly 600,000 hectares. The corridor will allow species to move safely between protected areas and promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of local communities. The initiative also aims to bridge the gap between modern and customary laws regarding forest land ownership, reduce the impacts of armed conflict on forests and wildlife, and protect Indigenous peoples from land grabbing.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/congos-communities-are-creating-a-1-million-hectare-biodiversity-corridor/

December 19, 2025
How Southern African farmers & elephants can both adapt to coexist

Conservation groups in Southern Africa, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Zimbabwe, the Ecoexist Trust in Botswana, and Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in Namibia, are implementing various strategies to promote coexistence between farmers and elephants. These strategies include using technology such as satellite collars, virtual fencing, and geofences to monitor elephant movements and prevent conflicts. By adapting farming practices, establishing fenced gardens, and implementing nonlethal repellents, these organizations are working towards fostering peaceful coexistence and reducing human-elephant conflict. Through these efforts, there is potential to create an "elephant-aware economy" in the region, incentivizing coexistence behavior and protecting Africa's remaining savanna elephants.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/how-southern-african-farmers-elephants-can-both-adapt-to-coexist/

December 19, 2025
Women scatter seeds, restore forests in Guinea, the ‘water tower of West Africa’

The arboRise Foundation's reforestation project in Guinea has been successful in combatting deforestation and addressing the impacts of climate change, creating employment for over 1,100 people and restoring water sources. By employing local women to collect seeds and monitor tree growth, the initiative challenges traditional power dynamics and aims for long-term sustainability through carbon credits. The project provides economic benefits to participants and empowers women in traditionally male-led societal structures. Despite facing challenges in replication and vulnerability, the project offers hope and optimism in the field of environmental work, providing a beacon of positivity in the face of environmental challenges.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/women-sow-seeds-restore-forests-in-guinea-the-water-tower-of-west-africa/

December 17, 2025
In Peru, community-led camera trapping boosts conservation and ecotourism

Community members in Alto Mayo, Peru are working to protect a unique wetland forest through sustainable ecotourism, scientific research, and participatory management of the territory. The Tingana Conservation Concession, managed by Adecaram and supported by Conservation International, covers 4,000 hectares and hosts a diverse ecosystem with renaco trees and aguajales above 800 meters. Visitors can explore flooded forests, learn about sustainable agriculture, and contribute to the community's economy while observing biodiversity through canoe tours. Camera traps have captured footage of rare wildlife like jaguarundis, margays, and birds, aiding in scientific research and environmental education efforts. The initiative has empowered local communities, broadened scientific knowledge, and emphasized the importance of preserving the ecosystem for future generations, with generational replacement being a key focus for sustainability.

https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/in-peru-community-led-camera-trapping-boosts-conservation-and-ecotourism/

December 17, 2025
Landfill Covering and Methane Capture

Landfills are a significant source of methane emissions globally as waste decomposes, but they can be transformed into managed systems with gas-capture systems and biocovers to reduce emissions. Restoring vegetation can further enhance carbon uptake and ecosystem recovery. The success of the Jardim Gramacho landfill in Rio de Janeiro, which reduced methane emissions through gas-capture systems and mangrove restoration, demonstrates how legacy waste sites can be stabilized to curb emissions and provide ecological and community benefits. This solution involves covering landfills and capturing methane for combustion, effectively reducing emissions at the source.

https://climatetrace.org/news/landfill-covering-and-methane-capture

December 16, 2025
Roots of Resilience: The Women Preserving Asia’s Ancient Mangrove Forest

NGOs like SEEDS are working in the Sundarbans to develop resilience to climate change impacts by planting mangrove saplings along degraded coastlines, integrating the initiative into the local community for long-term sustainability. Women's self-help groups are being enlisted to plant mangroves, turning them into protectors and contributing to the local economy. Dr. Krishna Ray's successful restoration project highlights the importance of community involvement and sustainable funding for long-term mangrove restoration. Local villagers are using mangrove restoration as a way to combat climate change impacts, earning income while contributing to ecological restoration and protection against cyclones and rising sea levels. This approach demonstrates the importance of linking the local economy to climate solutions in vulnerable regions.

https://reasonstobecheerful.world/women-preserving-worlds-largest-mangrove-forest-sundarbans-asia/

December 16, 2025
Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Adaptation & Agriculture – Global Center on Adaptation

Climate impacts are reshaping farming techniques globally, with unreliable rainfall and flash floods complicating food production in the Global South. Indigenous seed varieties and regenerative farming practices are at risk, affecting the nutritional health of populations. Communities in Zambia are implementing ecosystem-based adaptation to combat water shortages, emphasizing peer-to-peer learning and combining innovation with Indigenous practices for a sustainable future.

https://gca.org/indigenous-knowledge-systems-in-adaptation-agriculture/

December 16, 2025
From Plans to Progress: A Blueprint for Delivering 1.5°C Through the ‘Global Mutirão’

The Global Implementation Accelerator initiative is helping countries implement their NDCs and NAPs, with collaborative alignment already delivering tangible results. Private capital in Brazil supports forest restoration, while companies like Unilever adopt renewable energy and regenerative farming. In Taiwan, the European Outdoor Group aggregates renewable energy demand, and in Vietnam, companies like H&M and IKEA support grid modernization. These initiatives create win-win situations where countries advance climate goals and companies secure future access to renewable resources.

https://exponentialroadmap.org/from-plans-to-progress-a-blueprint-for-delivering-1-5c-through-the-global-mutirao/

December 13, 2025
Our Power News – What was different about this year’s UN climate talks?

World leaders marked the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, with historic progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C and transitioning away from fossil fuels. Indigenous delegations played a crucial role in advocating for climate action, securing the demarcation of territories and pushing for community-led renewable energy. The momentum towards forest protection, accountability for polluters, and clean energy as a right is growing, with renewable energy on track to meet all new electricity needs by 2025. Continued support is needed to demand real climate action and build a powerful climate movement for a safe and better future.

https://350.org/our-power-news-what-was-different-about-this-years-un-climate-talks/

December 13, 2025