The Africa Urban Forum in Nairobi, Kenya emphasized the importance of South-South Cooperation in Sustainable Urban Development in the Era of Climate Crisis, with a focus on housing as a unifying platform for enhancing productivity, climate resilience, social cohesion, and long-term prosperity in alignment with Agenda 2063. Mr. Philip Kilonzo of PACJA highlighted the significance of South-South cooperation in sustainable development. Civil Society Organizations in the Global South are leading community-driven climate adaptation efforts, upgrading informal settlements, implementing water recycling measures, and promoting nature-based solutions to bridge the gap between communities and governments.
Category: Food, Agriculture, Land & Ocean (FALO)
Cut Emissions:
– Curb Growing Demands
– Restore & Manage Ecosystems
– Shift Agriculture Practices
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Five Years Into a Fishing Ban, the Yangtze River Is Teeming With Life
A 10-year commercial fishing ban on the Yangtze River has led to a significant increase in fish biomass, species richness, and improved water quality, benefiting larger fish and endangered species like the Yangtze finless porpoise. The ban has also reduced underwater noise from boat propellers, showing that bold policies can catalyze ecological recovery in large-scale rivers. Despite challenges from river fragmentation caused by dams like the Gezhouba and Three Gorges, the ban has doubled biomass in the area, marking a historic milestone in conservation efforts. The extension of the ban through 2030 is seen as a bold strategy to restore the Yangtze River's ecosystem, demonstrating that strong political decisions in favor of the environment can have positive impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem health.
https://triplepundit.com/2026/yangtze-river-fishing-ban-endangered-species-conservation/
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Beyond Meat joins the Exponential Roadmap Initiative’s Climate Solutions Cluster
Beyond Meat's Beyond Burger® IV and Beyond Steak® Tips have been recognized as qualifying climate solutions by the Exponential Roadmap Initiative (ERI) for their significantly lower emissions compared to conventional options. The Beyond Burger® IV has a 70% lower carbon footprint than the US-average beef patty, while the Beyond Steak® Tips have a 65% lower carbon footprint. Shifting diets towards plant-based alternatives can help reduce emissions from the food system and support a more resilient food system, as plant-based foods generally require fewer resources and can reduce emissions, land use, and water consumption associated with food production.
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Marina Silva steps down as Brazil’s environment minister to run for Congress
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.
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Solar sheep grazing delivers margins up to 40% in new study
Agrivoltaic sheep grazing models in Ontario have been found to outperform traditional farming, offering higher margins and dual revenue streams from livestock and solar site services. The co-location of sheep grazing and solar PV arrays, known as agrivoltaics, provides a robust solution to the tightening profit margins of modern agriculture. Research by Western University indicates that these integrated business models offer a hedge against market volatility, with performance metrics consistently exceeding the broader agricultural industry's average EBITDA margin. The study explores two operational strategies – a year-round "Breeding Model" and a seasonal "Auction Model" – both of which show high financial stability and return on investment. The dual-revenue nature of the business, vegetation management fees from solar asset owners, and the technical superiority of sheep for vegetation control under solar panels contribute to the economic and environmental benefits of agrivoltaic systems. This approach could also help address trade imbalances in the meat industry, boost the rural economy by $170 million, create specialized agricultural jobs, enhance local food security, and preserve farmland while ensuring the financial resilience of family farms in the long term.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/26/solar-sheep-grazing-delivers-margins-up-to-40-in-new-study/
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Passing the Current
The Misool Marine Reserve in Indonesia, known for its high marine biodiversity, has seen improvements in coral reefs thanks to the coral restoration work led by the Misool Foundation. Through training local communities in coral planting techniques, the foundation has empowered villagers and students to become stewards of the reef, creating a self-sustaining network dedicated to marine conservation. By embedding conservation practices within the community, the foundation is ensuring the long-term protection of the marine ecosystem. As school students from nearby villages practice these techniques, they are preparing to be future guardians of the reef, contributing to the ongoing efforts to restore and protect the marine environment.
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What We’re Reading: Lessons From the ‘Grandmother Cacao’
In India's Western Ghats, a 65-year-old cacao tree is thriving thanks to successful agroforestry and "bio-control" techniques developed by a microbiologist couple. By using beneficial microbes to prevent the growth of pathogens, the farm is able to maintain soil health and produce organic cocoa. With increasing heat and rainfall threatening cacao trees with fungal and bacterial infestations, these innovative solutions are crucial for sustainable agriculture. This success story highlights the importance of climate-resilient practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-lessons-from-grandmother-cacao/
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Unpacking the Belem-Addis Vision for Africa’s Climate Adaptation – PACJA – Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance
Progress was made at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, with countries agreeing on global indicators for climate adaptation under the Global Goal on Adaptation and launching the Belem-Addis Vision. Experts emphasized the need for clearer frameworks, increased finance, and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure funds reach vulnerable communities, highlighting the importance of healthy ecosystems, community-led adaptation, and addressing food security. Calls were made for increased financing in the agriculture sector, with a focus on grant-based finance, locally driven solutions, and investment in technology and agroecological practices. Water was highlighted as crucial for adaptation, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where millions lack basic services, and closing this gap is seen as essential for effective climate adaptation and broader development as COP32 in Addis Ababa approaches.
https://pacja.org/unpacking-the-belem-addis-vision-for-africas-climate-adaptation/
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Saint Louis University’s Vasit Sagan and Derek Tesser on mapping cattle emissions
Vasit Sagan and Derek S. Tesser from Saint Louis University's Remote Sensing Lab are leading the Climate TRACE coalition's efforts to map cattle operations globally and track methane and nitrous oxide emissions from pastures and feedlots. Livestock emissions are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, but also offer potential for emissions reductions and carbon sequestration. The use of technology and modeling is being combined to map cattle emissions, with a focus on detecting and mapping concentrated animal feeding operations and manure lagoons. The Climate TRACE project is prioritizing high-emission regions for mapping cattle production to understand the climate impact, using remote sensing, geospatial models, and AI to fill data gaps and achieve environmental integrity, economic viability, and equity across regions and communities.
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Offshore wind’s cloudy day had a silver lining
As climate solutions experts, it is crucial to focus on implementing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Additionally, investing in energy-efficient technologies and practices, such as improving building insulation and promoting public transportation, can significantly contribute to lowering carbon footprints. It is also important to prioritize sustainable agriculture and land use practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change. By adopting these solutions and working towards a more sustainable future, we can make a positive impact on the environment and combat the effects of climate change.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-winds-cloudy-day-had-a-silver-lining-2/