Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Nature-Based Carbon Removal

Remove Carbon:
– Restore & Manage Ecosystems
– Shift Agriculture Practices
– Use Degraded Land
– Manipulate Biogeochemical Cycles

  • The Definitive Survey on Carbon Removal Capacity

    CDR.fyi and The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal (SoCDR) are partnering to gather information from CDR suppliers worldwide about their current and projected carbon removal capacity for the third edition of the State of CDR report and CDR.fyi's public data and maps. The survey covers basic information, project specifics, project status, delivered CDR, and future removal ambitions, with a deadline of December 15, 2025. Led by researchers from the University of Oxford, the State of CDR report is a global assessment of carbon removal progress that will provide valuable insights for climate solutions experts.

    https://www.cdr.fyi/blog/the-definitive-survey-on-carbon-removal-capacity

  • Rights to millions of hectares of Indigenous & local communities’ lands restored by ‘barefoot lawyers’

    Nonette Royo, executive director of the Tenure Facility, emphasizes the importance of utilizing the legal system to secure land rights for Indigenous and local communities in various countries. The organization aims to achieve land rights and governance for 60 million hectares of forested land by 2027, currently at roughly half that goal. They have made significant progress in securing land rights through legal, formal, and social means, with a focus on community-government alliances and trust-based community-led social mapping. The Tenure Facility has secured funding totaling $150 million, allowing them to scale operations and work towards accreditation with the Green Climate Fund. The conversation also touches on the importance of listening to diverse voices to foster collaboration and find sustainable solutions to climate-related challenges.

    https://news.mongabay.com/podcast/2025/11/rights-to-millions-of-hectares-of-indigenous-local-communities-lands-restored-by-barefoot-lawyers/

  • This Week in CDR

    This week saw key developments in durable carbon removal (CDR) with companies like Google, Schneider Electric, and Cawa signing agreements for the purchase of CDR credits. Deals were made with Vaulted Deep, Climeworks Solutions, and Carboneers for the removal of thousands of tonnes of carbon by 2030. Partnerships were also announced, including TechGen by South Pole and a strategic agreement between Microsoft and Equinor to advance CO2 transport and storage. Additionally, Carbon Removal Canada launched Carbon Console to track carbon removal projects in Canada. Altitude and Deep Sky have expanded their financing facilities for carbon removal technologies, while California passed bills to accelerate carbon removal projects and established a state CDR Purchase Program. COP30 will feature a carbon removal pavilion to showcase durable CDR solutions, and various reports and studies have been released on biochar deployment, carbon removal modeling, and legal frameworks for commercialization. The section discusses the state of the durable CDR market, with options ranging from very optimistic to very pessimistic, and encourages reader participation in a poll. The CDR.fyi Portal offers free access for companies to gain market insights and showcase their profiles, with affiliations mentioned with companies like Milkywire and Charm Industrial. Data and content published by CDR.fyi are vetted and reviewed by individuals with no conflict of interest.

    https://www.cdr.fyi/blog/this-week-in-cdr-week-38-2025

  • Environmental News Network – Creating an Extension-Driven Vision for Smarter Farming

    Luan Oliveira, a researcher in agricultural engineering and precision agriculture, utilizes machines, drones, artificial intelligence, and robots to improve farming operations. His work, influenced by his family's farming background in Brazil, directly supports Georgia's agriculture industry. Oliveira's passion for machinery and agriculture led him to focus on utilizing robotic equipment in the field to enhance agricultural practices. His research at the University of Georgia highlights the potential for technological advancements to revolutionize farming methods and increase efficiency in the agricultural sector.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/77455-creating-an-extension-driven-vision-for-smarter-farming

  • Brazil creates new Indigenous territories after COP30 protests

    Brazil has created 10 new Indigenous territories, including one in the Amazon, to protect culture and environment, with calls for more lands to be legally recognized. Indigenous peoples protect biodiversity and traditional ways of life help tackle global warming, with past recognition of Indigenous reserves preventing deforestation and potentially reducing carbon emissions by 26% by 2030. The Brazilian government has announced the creation of new protected areas for indigenous peoples, crucial for regulating the global climate and storing carbon, with efforts at COP30 to limit global temperature rises and address the impacts of climate change. Indigenous groups face attacks when defending their land, with protests at COP30 demanding land demarcation to ensure the protection of Indigenous territories and their vital role in climate solutions.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d0vekq12ro

  • From waffle gardens to terraces, Indigenous groups revive farming heritage in America’s deserts

    Native American farmers in the southwestern United States, such as Clayton Brascoupe, Roxanne Swentzell, and Lilian Hill, are leading efforts to revitalize traditional weather-adaptive techniques like dry farming, terracing, and seed saving. These age-old farming methods are being shared to help communities in dry regions worldwide, promoting cultural identity, self-sufficiency, and better health through better food and traditional farming practices. By incorporating animals and insects into their farming practices, they create sustainable food systems that minimize waste and maximize resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest in these practices as access to fresh food became limited, highlighting the importance of spreading ancient agricultural wisdom globally to address concerns about climate change and drought.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2025/11/from-waffle-gardens-to-terraces-indigenous-groups-revive-farming-heritage-in-americas-deserts/

  • How one community is protecting 16,500 hectares of rainforest

    Cool Earth has partnered with the local community in Sololo, Papua New Guinea to protect their rainforest, which serves as a valuable carbon sink and essential resource for the community. By providing unconditional funding, Cool Earth enables the community to resist loggers and oil palm companies, preserving their traditional way of life and safeguarding the environment for future generations. This initiative highlights the importance of empowering indigenous peoples and local communities in climate solutions, as they are the real experts in rainforest protection and sustainable resource management. Through projects like the roofing iron initiative, communities can generate income, strengthen their homes against climate impacts, and contribute to the preservation of vital ecosystems.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/best-rainforest-protection-in-papua-new-guinea/

  • The Mangrove Breakthrough is Mobilizing Global Leadership and Large-Scale Finance

    The Mangrove Breakthrough initiative aims to protect and restore mangroves by mobilizing $4 billion to conserve 15 million hectares by 2030. This global movement focuses on embedding mangrove conservation within the local economy to build resilient communities. The initiative promotes radical collaboration, science-based financial decisions, and investing in local leadership. The Hub, hosted by the Chilean NGO Ambition Loop, drives the mission by sustaining partnerships and building infrastructure for lasting impact. The Mangrove Breakthrough is introducing the Mangrove Catalytic Facility to bridge financing gaps and enable systemic transformation in mangrove-positive actions and businesses, with over $750 million mobilized in mangrove-positive investments since 2020.

    https://www.mangrovealliance.org/news/cop30-flagship-ministerial-event

  • What do African countries want from COP30?

    African government negotiators at COP30 are prioritizing fair sharing of the bill for climate change, seeking finance solutions to help them become more resilient to climate disasters and transition to cleaner energy without adding to their debt loads. Several African countries have lowered emissions cutting ambitions in their latest national climate plans due to lack of funding. The goal is to ensure practical solutions are recognized for African countries experiencing global warming, with a focus on debt-free finance and increased provision of climate cash from public and private sources. African negotiators are pushing for $1.3 trillion in annual financial support by 2035, with the majority being grant-based resources to avoid increasing the continent's debt burden. Africa's total external debt has risen to $1.15 trillion by the end of 2023, with debt servicing reaching $163 billion in 2024. African negotiators are aiming to unlock cash to implement national adaptation plans and adopt metrics tailored to Africa's circumstances. Discussions are ongoing to finalize a set of around 100 indicators for adaptation progress. African countries are eager to see national adaptation plans become a reality on the ground, with a focus on building resilience and capacity for emergency response. The Congo Basin is receiving limited international forest-related financing, and African delegates are interested in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility launched by Brazil at COP30. African civil society groups are calling for COP30 to recognize the Congo Basin as a vital global climate asset and ensure equitable finance flows for its protection. They also want support for Africa-led initiatives like the Great Green Wall and AFR100 to strengthen nature-based solutions. Activists are pushing for a Just Transition Work Programme to ensure social justice and equity in job creation and finance during the global shift to cleaner energy sources. African countries are also advocating for discussions at COP30 on critical minerals to focus on powering Africa's transition and supporting their development. Loss and damage costs in Africa due to climate impacts are estimated to be between $280 billion-$440 billion a year from 2020 to 2030. Africa is facing "irreplaceable loss" due to climate change impacts, including damage to cultural heritage sites, shrinking farmlands, and worsening health. The country is calling for international support to cope with these challenges. At COP30, African civil society groups are advocating for the new global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) to provide grants for climate-vulnerable nations in Africa. The fund should offer assistance for both sudden and slow-onset crises, such as losses from rising seas or desertification. Africa's COP30 envoy emphasizes the need for an efficient fund that can address loss and damage on an emergency basis, criticizing the slow progress and lack of significant donations to the FRLD.

    https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/11/10/what-do-african-countries-want-from-cop30/

  • Ceres applauds launch of Tropical Forest Forever Facility, urges more government and private sector support

    The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) was launched at COP30 Leader's Summit with $5.5 billion in investment commitments to protect tropical forests, aiming to safeguard over 1 billion hectares by paying nations to keep them standing. Endorsed by 34 tropical forest countries, the fund mandates at least 20% of payments go to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, using a blended finance model to generate returns for investors and create an enabling environment for companies to close supply chain gaps. Ceres will release a report analyzing corporate progress on deforestation and offering pathways for business action in at-risk sectors.

    https://www.ceres.org/resources/news/ceres-applauds-launch-of-tropical-forest-forever-facility-urges-more-government-and-private-sector-support