Climate Change Solutions Update

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

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

  • How Mongabay’s journalism made an impact in 2025

    In 2025, Mongabay's journalism focused on empowering Indigenous and local communities by exposing illegal activities in the Amazon, highlighting conservation efforts in Colombia and Mexico, and collaborating with GI-TOC to combat illegal wildlife trade. Their reporting led to indictments and recommendations for bans on illegal practices in Brazil, as well as actions by organizations like WWF. With over 870 impacts logged throughout the year, Mongabay's work aims to hold powerful interests accountable and empower communities to defend their rights and ecosystems.

    https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/12/how-mongabays-journalism-made-an-impact-in-2025/

  • Clark Lungren and the case for compromise in conservation

    Clark Lungren, a conservationist in Burkina Faso, and a field biologist, bird specialist, and advisor in West and Central African countries, both emphasized the importance of aligning conservation efforts with local governance and incentives to ensure long-lasting impact. Lungren's strategy of granting communities controlled hunting rights in exchange for protection, initially dismissed by experts, proved durable and led to the rebound of wildlife populations in the Nazinga area. The field biologist's work focused on training local monitors, managing wildlife, and advocating for community involvement, leading to the establishment of community-managed hunting zones and the protection of wildlife corridors in the region. Both cases demonstrate that practical compromises and community involvement are key to successful conservation efforts that align with local needs and ensure sustainable practices.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/clark-lungren-and-the-case-for-compromise-in-conservation/

  • Africa mulls gap in climate adaptation finance for agriculture

    African stakeholders are advocating for increased adaptation funding for smallholder farmers in the agricultural sector who are highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Despite international funding pledges, there is a significant gap of approximately $365 billion through 2035, with skepticism that other countries will fill the shortfall. Climate finance is concentrated in a few countries, leaving farmers with limited access to funds for climate-smart practices. Stakeholders are calling for public financing, better early-warning systems, loss-and-damage support, and the implementation of climate-smart agriculture to address the underfunding of agricultural adaptation in Africa. Efforts to redirect harmful subsidies, reform finance institutions, and create a fairer global tax system are suggested to fill the gap in finance flows to small-scale agriculture in Africa. Additionally, concerns about the lack of progress in implementing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) at the climate conference and the need for quadrupling Africa's climate finance flows annually until 2030 to meet investment needs for emissions reduction pledges under the Paris Agreement are highlighted.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/12/africa-mulls-gap-in-climate-adaptation-finance-for-agriculture/

  • Environmental News Network – Spray-on Antibacterial Coating Offers New Protection for Plants Against Disease and Drought

    Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a spray-on polymer coating to help plants resist bacterial infections and survive drought, which could strengthen global food security. Bacterial infections are a growing threat to agriculture, causing major crop losses worldwide. Rising temperatures are allowing pathogens to expand into new regions, increasing crop exposure to infections. Researchers developed an antibacterial coating that can be sprayed directly onto plant leaves to combat this challenge, offering a promising solution to enhance crop resilience and food production in the face of climate change.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/77617-spray-on-antibacterial-coating-offers-new-protection-for-plants-against-disease-and-drought

  • Offshore wind turbines create all-you-can-eat havens where some fish can double in size

    A new study found that offshore wind farms can lead to larger fish species and increased complexity in the oceanic food chain due to the rough surfaces of turbine monopiles and submarine cables providing new habitats for marine organisms. The presence of wind turbines created a different marine environment with positive attributes, such as increased biomass of benthic fish and sessile organisms colonizing the structures. Additionally, the wind farm acted as a no-take zone, serving as a marine protected area for commercially targeted species and contributing to a more stable, diverse, and functionally intact ocean life compared to areas without turbines. While there are risks associated with exploration and construction, the study suggests that wind farms can have positive impacts on marine ecosystems by providing new habitats and increasing food availability for marine life.

    https://reneweconomy.com.au/offshore-wind-turbines-create-all-you-can-eat-havens-where-some-fish-can-double-in-size/

  • The levers for a sustainable food system

    The article outlines a food system transformation pathway that can help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius while improving health, environment, and social inclusion. This pathway involves changes in food production, consumption, and waste management, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved nutrition, and increased food security. Sustainable agriculture practices and dietary shifts are emphasized as key components in achieving climate goals and benefiting human health and well-being.

    https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/the-levers-for-a-sustainable-food-system

  • Big Year for Regeneration!

    A group of farmers, food activists, and climate activists from North and South America gathered in Santiago, Chile under the banner of Regeneration International to develop a common strategy to address climate change and other pressing issues. Despite the cancellation of the COP25 in Santiago, they continued their efforts in Madrid, representing Regeneration International and fostering partnerships. The Chilean delegation of Regeneration International at COP25 is calling for a focus on four key points to expand regenerative solutions and restore global climate stability in time, including the importance of agroecology in combating climate change. Additionally, an agroecological seed company in Argentina, Constelación Semillas Agroecológicas, was highlighted as the affiliate of the month for their monumental achievements in sustainable agriculture. Chile will no longer host COP, raising questions about the future of climate action in the country.

    https://act.web-advocacy.net/page/15700/action/1?locale=en-US

  • Environmental News Network – UC San Diego Launches Soil Health Center to Advance Climate Solutions, Food Security

    The University of California San Diego has established the UC San Diego Soil Health Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in Southern California, dedicated to advancing climate solutions through soil health research, education, and outreach. The center's focus is on building and maintaining soil health to mitigate climate change, enhance food security, and boost societal resilience. By bringing together experts from different fields, the center aims to drive sustainable technology innovations, such as creating a natural soil probiotic to enhance plant growth and increase carbon storage in the soil.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/77610-uc-san-diego-launches-soil-health-center-to-advance-climate-solutions-food-security

  • 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/

  • 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/