Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Nature-Based Carbon Removal

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

  • Environmental News Network – AI Project Led by UH Aims to Protect Hawaiʻi’s Coastal Freshwater

    The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is leading a new project using artificial intelligence to predict the threats of rising seas and stronger storms on coastal freshwater supplies and ecosystems. Associate Professor Jonghyun "Harry" Lee has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for this initiative, which aims to address issues like saltwater contamination and ecosystem degradation. The project is crucial as rising seas and stronger storms have significant impacts on drinking water supplies, agriculture, infrastructure, local economies, and the daily lives of millions of people.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78302-ai-project-led-by-uh-aims-to-protect-hawai-i-s-coastal-freshwater

  • Environmental News Network – Specific Cover Crops May Help Attract Insects That Target Harmful Pests

    A recent study from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences revealed that different cover crops can influence plant defense mechanisms against pests. Published in Basic and Applied Ecology, the research showed that plants grown in soil previously used by pea cover crops emitted more indole, boosting stress hormones and defensive chemicals, but had lower levels of benzoxazinoid, a natural pesticide. These findings highlight the potential for cover crops to impact plant resilience and pest management strategies, offering valuable insights for climate solutions experts seeking sustainable agricultural practices.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78293-specific-cover-crops-may-help-attract-insects-that-target-harmful-pests

  • Carbon farming is an opportunity for Australian farmers and regions, not a land grab

    Carbon projects in Australia are creating new opportunities for farmers, regional communities, and land managers by bringing investment into agriculture, diversifying farm income, supporting jobs, and delivering environmental benefits. These projects encompass a variety of practices such as soil carbon management, improved grazing, regeneration, and plantation forestry. A credible and high-integrity ACCU scheme is essential for ensuring genuine, measurable, and lasting climate outcomes. Carbon projects can provide diversified income, improved cash flow, and greater resilience for landholders while complementing traditional food and fibre production. Additionally, these projects contribute to regional economic development, create jobs, and strengthen biodiversity outcomes by restoring vegetation, improving soils, and protecting waterways. Active land management, including controlling pests and invasive species, managing fire risk, and maintaining land according to project commitments, is crucial for restoring Australia's degraded rangelands. Carbon markets can incentivize environmental stewardship by putting a value on carbon projects that deliver climate and biodiversity benefits. Private capital is driving investment in Australian agriculture through carbon farming, with the Safeguard Mechanism creating a market signal for emissions reduction. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation can help de-risk investments and attract private capital for projects that deliver measurable climate and environmental outcomes. Carbon farming is seen as an investment in the future of Australian agriculture and regional economies, rather than a land grab.

    https://carbonmarketinstitute.org/2026/08/28/carbon-farming-opportunity/

  • Environmental News Network – WVU AI Research Could Transform How Scientists Monitor Ecosystems

    West Virginia University researchers, led by assistant professor Steve Kannenberg, are using artificial intelligence to rapidly access critical data on ecosystem health, allowing for swift responses to events like droughts and wildfires. With support from the National Science Foundation, AI is being integrated into local monitoring sensors to track ecosystem health in near real time. Given the constant exchange of carbon, water, and energy between ecosystems and the atmosphere globally, monitoring their responses to events such as rain, drought, or fire is crucial for effective climate solutions.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78276-wvu-ai-research-could-transform-how-scientists-monitor-ecosystems

  • Can restoring land create jobs? These young entrepreneurs are proving it

    In Senegal, Féro combines high-productivity greenhouses with agroforestry systems to balance production with restoration, while Green Eden Farms developed ScareGrow, a solar-powered precision agriculture system. Pacchar Biochar in Ecuador turns agricultural waste into biochar to improve soil health, inspired by ancient Amazonian terra preta soils. The key to successful restoration projects is offering tangible benefits to farmers and responding to market demand. The Youth Ecopreneur Programme supports young entrepreneurs in developing environmental businesses focused on land restoration, aiming to create a restoration economy that generates livelihoods and market opportunities while shifting away from reliance on public projects or donations.

    https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168194

  • Environmental News Network – Natural Restoration Is Key to Reviving Threatened Tropical Rainforests

    Research from The University of Queensland and the University of Newcastle has shown that natural forest regeneration is a cost-effective and viable solution for restoring ecosystems and combating climate change. The study found that natural regeneration can provide significant carbon and biodiversity benefits, and be up to 96% cheaper than traditional tree-planting programs. By creating an interactive global map, researchers have highlighted the benefits of letting nature take the lead in restoration efforts. School of the Environment PhD candidate Jiaqi Li emphasized the importance of embracing natural regeneration as a key strategy for addressing climate change.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78272-natural-restoration-is-key-to-reviving-threatened-tropical-rainforests

  • Horizontal Levees Are Spreading Across the Bay Area

    The Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve is home to a unique horizontal levee project that blends into the natural scenery and mimics the functions of a natural estuary. Designed to interact with Bay waters like natural estuaries, the project uses treated wastewater to irrigate plants that remove nitrogen before it filters into the Bay. This green infrastructure initiative provides conditions for native species to thrive, including the salt-marsh harvest mouse, while also serving as a flood break. With sea levels projected to rise significantly by 2100, the levee and similar projects are crucial for protecting Bay Area residents from future flooding events and restoring habitat for endangered wildlife.

    https://reasonstobecheerful.world/bay-area-living-levees/

  • The clean energy transition needs land. Can it help restore it too?

    At a UN desertification conference in Mongolia, experts discussed how renewable energy expansion can co-exist with land protection and restoration, showcasing examples such as repurposing degraded mining land in South Africa and combining solar panels with vegetation in China. Renewable energy projects like solar irrigation in India are proving to generate electricity while benefiting agriculture and restoring land. The UN is calling for case studies on successful projects that integrate renewable energy with land, water, biodiversity, and communities to break dependence on fossil fuels while protecting and restoring nature globally. Planning for impactful renewables should consider wider landscape context, biodiversity, and input from local communities to minimize environmental impacts. Discussions are ongoing on how to pursue these goals simultaneously on the same land.

    https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/08/1168172

  • Study finds arable crops adapt surprisingly well to agrivoltaic shading

    A study by Germany's University of Hohenheim and the Jülich Research Centre found that crops like barley, beans, potatoes, cabbage, and maize can effectively adapt their photosynthesis to altered light conditions caused by photovoltaic modules. The study also showed that agroforestry systems, where trees or shrubs grow alongside crops, can decrease plants' light requirements significantly under partial shade, allowing them to use CO2 more efficiently for photosynthesis. This adaptability could be used to identify and breed crop varieties suitable for agrivoltaic systems. Agrivoltaics can help mitigate heat and drought stress by improving the microclimate, lowering soil temperatures, and helping soil retain moisture for longer periods, making them important for agriculture to adapt to climate change. Yield data varied by location and crop type, with no consistent pattern, but the research provides insights into how crops respond to natural shading, offering fundamental knowledge for sustainable farming solutions.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/08/19/study-finds-arable-crops-adapt-surprisingly-well-to-agrivoltaic-shading/

  • Environmental News Network – Can Artificial Intelligence Help Save Nature?

    AI and digitized plant specimens are being used by researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew to study the global impact of climate change on nature. The report, involving 400 researchers from 40 countries, emphasizes the role of AI in botany and nature management, with contributions from experts like James Speed from NTNU University Museum. This research offers valuable insights into how climate change is affecting plant species worldwide, providing essential information for developing effective climate solutions.

    https://www.enn.com/articles/78258-can-artificial-intelligence-help-save-nature