Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Food, Agriculture, Land & Ocean (FALO)

Cut Emissions:
– Curb Growing Demands
– Restore & Manage Ecosystems
– Shift Agriculture Practices

  • We Need More of Africa in Global Ocean Governance

    Ocean governance is crucial for Africa's coasts and high seas, impacting fisheries, climate processes, and food security. Recent negotiations are reshaping global ocean governance, focusing on ownership, seafloor governance, decarbonization of shipping, and ending plastic pollution. The High Seas Treaty, focusing on marine biodiversity, entered into force in January. The International Seabed Authority is negotiating deep-sea mining rules, while the IMO's Net-Zero Framework aims to redesign the shipping industry. The collapse of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty poses challenges, with Africa's involvement critical for the continent's fisheries and blue economy. The Great Blue Wall initiative in the Western Indian Ocean has shown progress in restoring coastal and marine ecosystems, creating jobs, and improving climate resilience. However, global governance is crucial for its success, especially in the context of high-seas Marine Protected Areas and deep-sea mining. African states must shape these governance frameworks to protect their interests. Climate-induced declines in ocean health could cost the global economy billions by 2050, with African coastal states particularly vulnerable. Coordinated action is needed to regulate plastics, decarbonize shipping, and pause deep-sea mining for a well-governed ocean that benefits Africa.

    https://africanclimatewire.org/2026/07/we-need-more-of-africa-in-global-ocean-governance/

  • A Call to Arms – UK Health Alliance on Climate Change

    The urgent need for immediate transformative change to combat climate change is highlighted in the article, as the UK faces devastating consequences from heatwaves and rising temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts of climate change are already severe, threatening food supply, national security, and the economy. Adapting to extreme heat events and reducing emissions are crucial to mitigate the strain on resources and services, such as transportation, healthcare, and infrastructure. Transforming power generation, agriculture, building regulations, and transport, as well as promoting plant-based diets and restorative agriculture, are essential actions to combat the imminent threat of climate change and increase biodiversity while creating jobs and increasing infrastructure security. The time for action is now, as there is no time left for delay in addressing climate change.

    https://ukhealthalliance.org/news-item/a-call-to-arms/

  • In southern India, beekeeping helps Indigenous women earn more

    The Women for Bees project in India's Western Ghats, launched by UNESCO in partnership with the Keystone Foundation, empowers Indigenous women through managed beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee. This initiative provides a safer and more predictable alternative to traditional wild honey hunting, leading to immediate economic impacts such as financial independence and improved livelihoods for participants. Studies have shown that pollination by Asian honey bees can enhance crop yields, while ecological benefits like improved flowering in surrounding fruit farms have been observed. The project has fostered community support and knowledge sharing among participants, with plans to expand to other biosphere reserves in the future.

    https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/07/in-southern-india-beekeeping-helps-indigenous-women-earn-more/

  • Scientific & traditional knowledge are key for effective & community-centered conservation (commentary)

    Women from the Indigenous community of Kibber in Spiti Valley, India, and a village in the Himalayas have played key roles in monitoring and protecting snow leopards, combining traditional knowledge with scientific skills. These community-led conservation efforts have led to the end of retaliatory killings of snow leopards and wolves, and the establishment of livestock-free reserves to increase prey populations. Scientific research has influenced conservation policy, placing communities at the center of national strategies and leading to the establishment of community-managed reserves like the Tost Nature Reserve in Mongolia. The success of these efforts highlights the importance of integrating scientific and traditional knowledge, community engagement, and collaboration between communities, scientists, and conservation practitioners in effective and sustainable nature conservation.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/scientific-traditional-knowledge-are-key-for-effective-community-centered-conservation-commentary/

  • Where solar meets the soil: The multi-benefit potential of ecovoltaics and agrivoltaics

    The energy industry is experiencing a surge in demand from data centers, crypto mining, and electric vehicles, while the federal government continues to prioritize fossil fuels. However, photovoltaic solar technology has become more efficient and cost-effective, offering a promising alternative energy source. Emerging methods like ecovoltaics and agrivoltaics are promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health by using PV solar panels to cultivate native plant growth. Studies have shown that ecovoltaic sites support more biodiversity, attract pollinators, and have positive impacts on soil health compared to traditional solar energy farms. Agrivoltaics, the integration of solar and agricultural production, can benefit habitat biodiversity, support native species, and provide mutual benefits for energy and food production, especially in states with limited land for both renewable energy and agriculture. Countries like Japan have already seen success with agrivoltaics, including projects that integrate livestock grazing under solar panels. Projects like the Cornucopia Hybrid Solar Project in California demonstrate the potential for agrivoltaics to deliver renewable energy, promote agricultural uses, and conserve groundwater while reducing fire risks and the need for vegetation maintenance.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/07/16/where-solar-meets-the-soil-the-multi-benefit-potential-of-ecovoltaics-and-agrivoltaics/

  • Zayed Sustainability Prize Closes 2027 Submissions with Strong Global Participation

    The Zayed Sustainability Prize has closed submissions for its 2027 awards cycle, receiving a record 10,233 entries from 177 countries across six categories. The submissions reflect a growing emphasis on resilience, adaptability, and systems-level impact, with a focus on practical, community-focused solutions. Key trends include a strong focus on AI-enabled healthcare and agricultural technologies, decentralized energy, improved groundwater access, and circular economy approaches. The Climate Action category received the highest number of submissions, followed by Food, Health, Global High Schools, Energy, and Water, showcasing a global demand for practical solutions to address urgent challenges. The section discusses solutions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, water access, and climate action, with a focus on affordability, reliability, and community resilience. It highlights student-led projects in global high schools addressing renewable energy, water filtration, waste management, and biodiversity. The Zayed Sustainability Prize recognizes innovative solutions in various categories, with winners receiving funding to implement or expand their projects, positively impacting over 411 million lives worldwide and promoting sustainable development and resilience.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/15/zayed-sustainability-prize-closes-2027-submissions-with-strong-global-participation/

  • Consultation: Major Revision to Biochar Methodology (VM0044)

    Project Reignite, a climate action initiative by Together for Restoration, focuses on converting farm waste into sustainable solutions certified by Verra Project 4679. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by turning agricultural waste into biochar, improving soil health and fertility in the process. By demonstrating a practical and effective approach to addressing climate challenges in the agricultural sector, Project Reignite showcases the potential for utilizing farm waste to mitigate climate change.

    https://verra.org/consultation-major-revision-to-biochar-methodology-vm0044/

  • As Human-Wildlife Conflict Rises, Zimbabwean Communities Find New Ways to Coexist

    Wildlife Conservation Action in Zimbabwe is addressing human-wildlife conflicts by empowering local communities with non-lethal solutions such as predator-proof cattle bomas and elephant deterrent fences. By integrating local knowledge with technology, they promote coexistence through conflict mitigation, land restoration, and sustainable livelihoods. These efforts have led to a significant decrease in human-wildlife conflicts, with incidents falling by as much as 98 percent in some districts. Challenges such as the short lifespan of the bomas and high initial construction costs remain, but overall, the organization's approach has brought hope to villagers facing losses due to predator attacks.

    https://triplepundit.com/2026/human-wildlife-conflict-zimbabwe-coexistence-elephants-lions/

  • Why Africa should link nutritional data with fisheries management (commentary)

    The Our Ocean Conference in Kenya highlighted the need for countries to manage aquatic foods for people's nutrition, not just for production and trade. A new op-ed argues that African countries should focus on managing fisheries for the nutritional benefits it provides to their people. Fishers in Timor-Leste have been logging their trips and recording data on the gear used, habitats visited, and catch brought home to better understand how small-scale fishing nourishes people. The value of a catch should not just be measured in kilos, but also in the nutrients it provides to local diets. This shift in focus is crucial for inclusive development and social impact in fisheries management. Small-scale fisheries play a crucial role in delivering key micronutrients to 2.3 billion people globally. It is essential to rethink food systems investments and ensure that development institutions are investing enough in this valuable nutritional resource. By managing fisheries not only for production but also for the nutritional benefits they provide, Africa can harness its oceans for greater social impact and inclusive development. Essam Yassin Mohammed, director general of WorldFish, leads efforts to advance research and innovation in aquatic food systems to promote sustainable fisheries management.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/why-africa-should-link-nutritional-data-with-fisheries-management-commentary/

  • Environmental News Network – Plants Get Wearables to Track Their Health

    New plant "wearable" sensors have been developed to track vital signs of plant life, such as temperature and humidity beneath the leaf's surface, and stem growth. These sensors aim to detect distress signals in plants earlier, allowing farmers to respond and help their crops thrive before visible signs of stress appear. The system runs without an external battery, using moisture evaporating from the plant itself for power. This innovation could revolutionize crop management by providing real-time information to farmers for proactive crop care.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78149-plants-get-wearables-to-track-their-health