Climate Change Solutions Update

Category: Nature-Based Carbon Removal

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

  • Carbon180’s Making Waves named to Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas

    Carbon180's Making Waves Coastal Community Regranting Initiative, recognized on Fast Company's World Changing Ideas list, aims to involve coastal communities in exploring marine carbon removal (mCDR) near them. The first cohort in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico focuses on governance, community input, and ecosystem impacts to build long-term public trust and ensure equitable, locally grounded mCDR development. With the necessity of gigaton-scale carbon removal to mitigate climate change impacts, involving coastal communities in planning and implementation not only helps achieve this goal but also brings jobs and opportunities to these areas. Making Waves is dedicated to empowering coastal communities in the process of carbon removal projects.

    https://carbon180.org/blog/carbon180s-making-waves-named-to-fast-companys-world-changing-ideas/

  • Investing in movement building: How flexible funding is helping agroecology take root across Africa

    The industrial agricultural system in Africa heavily relies on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which are becoming more expensive and harmful to ecosystems and human health. Agroecology, a farming approach that works with nature, is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. Grassroots organizations in Africa are leading the movement towards agroecology, but they require flexible and unrestricted funding to drive real systems transformation. ClimateWorks and the African Climate Foundation are supporting these organizations to advance agroecology and reduce the use of agrochemicals across the continent. The grant focused on supporting grassroots leaders in Africa passionate about agroecology, providing flexible funding that allowed for the strengthening of farmer networks and building connections across regions. Local organizations and farmers were able to contextualize solutions in ways outsiders cannot, leading to the development of resilient, locally-led food systems. The importance of deep cultural and ecological knowledge in implementing agroecology was highlighted, with local knowledge informing global discourse and farmers being recognized as active co-creators of solutions. The grant facilitated the establishment of national networks to combat counterfeit agrochemicals and drive policy influence at various levels. Grassroots organizations in Africa are collaborating and learning from each other to address systemic barriers and inequalities within food systems. Trust-based, locally-led funding is seen as more effective in driving systemic change in climate philanthropy. The collaboration between organizations has led to the adoption of new technologies and practices to strengthen interventions. Securing adequate and sustainable financial resources is crucial for deepening agroecological work and reducing inequalities in rural communities. These lessons are shaping the strategy for future climate solutions. The Food and Agriculture program at ClimateWorks focuses on coalition building, narrative shifting, and mutual learning to transition to more sustainable food systems. Frontline actors are essential in these coalitions to increase political representation and create durable solutions. Diverse actors are reframing public narratives about food and agriculture to drive change. Mutual learning across regions accelerates the adoption of new ideas and practices. The program aims to create the conditions for change to be possible and support organizations in creating more sustainable food systems for future generations.

    https://www.climateworks.org/blog/investing-in-movement-building-how-flexible-funding-is-helping-agroecology-take-root-across-africa/

  • Scaling technology-based CDR

    Reaching gigaton-scale carbon dioxide removal by midcentury is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Carbon180's Road to 2030 outlines actionable policy blueprints for achieving this goal through ocean, technological, and agricultural carbon removal pathways. The US has the potential to lead the global market in carbon dioxide removal technologies, but faces barriers such as lack of public funding, demand, standards, and community trust. The newly released federal policy roadmap, Scaling Technology-based Carbon Dioxide Removal, provides recommendations to address these gaps and advance the growth of the carbon removal industry. The importance of advancing federal research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) alongside building infrastructure, creating durable markets, and strengthening standards in order to scale up Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies is emphasized in the roadmap, serving as a starting point for policymakers, researchers, and advocates looking to advance CDR solutions and ensure the US remains a leader in technological CDR.

    https://carbon180.org/blog/scaling-technology-based-cdr/

  • As Global Warming Threatens Corals Worldwide, Woods Hole Scientists Search for ‘Super Reefs’ That Can Take the Heat

    Anne Cohen is working on creating a "super reef blue corridor" specifically for heat-tolerant corals in the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and Tuvalu. This corridor would include a network of protected super reefs and restoration sites connected by ocean currents to encourage interbreeding. The idea is to create a "super highway" for "super corals" to increase their resilience to heat stress. The success of this project could serve as a model for creating similar protected networks globally. Collaboration between countries and prioritizing reefs for protection are key to the success of these initiatives.

    https://insideclimatenews.org/news/14062026/scientists-search-for-heat-resilient-reefs/

  • Australia establishes the first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area

    The Karajarri people of Kimberley in northwestern Australia have established Australia's first Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area, acknowledging their deep connection to the land and sea. This new protected area, rich in biodiversity, is crucial for maintaining the health of both people and ecosystems. Building on three decades of legal and political efforts, Australia's Indigenous Protected Areas are now playing a key role in the country's goal to protect 30% of its territory by 2030.

    https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/06/australia-establishes-the-first-sea-country-indigenous-protected-area/

  • Tony Parkes, the banker who replanted a rainforest

    Tony Parkes dedicated three decades to restoring the Big Scrub rainforest in northern New South Wales, planting tens of thousands of trees and uniting various stakeholders in rainforest recovery efforts. The Big Scrub, once covering 75,000 hectares, had dwindled to just one percent remaining due to clearing and cattle grazing. Parkes' leadership in the Big Scrub Rainforest Conservancy helped protect remnants, plant millions of trees, and make rainforest restoration a key part of the region's civic life. His approach involved bringing together landholders, scientists, donors, and volunteers to work towards a disciplined model of rainforest recovery. Parkes emphasized evidence-based conservation, genetic diversity, and resilience to climate change, leading to significant progress in restoring the landscape and preserving biodiversity.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/tony-parkes-the-banker-who-replanted-a-rainforest/

  • In Thailand, EUDR pressure on small-scale rubber farmers prompts private-sector assistance

    The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is putting pressure on small-scale rubber farmers in Thailand to prove their products are deforestation-free in order to continue supplying European markets. Private intermediary firms like Agriac are helping farmers comply through tech-based traceability platforms such as Traztru. The EUDR aims to reduce deforestation risks and promote sustainability in the rubber industry, with a focus on collaboration across the supply chain and investment in small-scale producers. Efforts to engage more farmers and ensure compliance with EUDR standards will require collective responsibility and a shift towards sustainable practices. Crop diversification in rubber agroforestry plantations and promoting biodiversity-friendly approaches are key strategies to transform the rubber industry supply chain in time for upcoming regulations.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/06/in-thailand-eudr-pressure-on-small-scale-rubber-farmers-prompts-private-sector-assistance/

  • What in the World Could Conservationists from the Rainforest and the Savannah Learn from Each Other? A Lot, It Turns Out.

    Wildlife conservationists from Ewaso Lions in Kenya visited Sabah, Malaysian Borneo to exchange knowledge and collaborate with local organizations on community-led conservation efforts. They learned about the challenges of human-wildlife conflict, particularly with Bornean elephants, and innovative strategies to mitigate conflict. The visit included a community-led conservation workshop at Hutan headquarters, where both teams shared insights on conservation approaches. Ewaso Lions is using feedback from the trip to refine their community-led conservation framework and empower local communities in Kenya. The exchange highlighted the universal language of conservation and the importance of collaboration in advancing solutions for wildlife and people to coexist. The team also visited a women-led tree nursery and observed wild orangutans in restoration areas, inspiring them to establish their own tree nursery and explore landscape-scale coexistence models. The experience emphasized the importance of community empowerment in conservation efforts and the shared passion of women working in conservation across the globe, showing that when local communities lead, wildlife can thrive.

    https://wildnet.org/news/what-in-the-world-could-conservationists-from-the-rainforest-and-the-savannah-learn-from-each-other-a-lot-it-turns-out/

  • Restoration Best Practices

    Mangrove ecosystems are facing collapse by 2050, with successful restoration efforts requiring an understanding of site conditions and addressing barriers to natural regeneration. Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) is a recognized approach that combines ecological understanding and community stewardship to create more biodiverse and resilient ecosystems. Restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems by addressing hydrological barriers has proven successful in El Salvador and Kenya, improving habitat quality, fisheries productivity, and biodiversity. Protecting existing mangrove forests is crucial, as they provide critical ecosystem services and are more cost-effective than restoration. Restoration projects should prioritize ecological processes, engage local communities, and work with nature to create diverse, resilient, and sustainable mangrove ecosystems.

    https://www.mangrovealliance.org/news/ocean-day-restoration-best-practices

  • Happy World Ocean Day!

    The importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) in achieving the 30×30 goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 is highlighted, with Chile announcing its commitment to ocean protection by expanding the Juan Fernández Marine Protected Area (MPA). Efforts to restore kelp forests threatened by sea urchins and the lower genetic diversity of great white sharks in the Monterey Bay area are also discussed, along with the use of technology to study them. The overall message emphasizes the need for conservation efforts and climate control to protect the ocean ecosystem, raising awareness and advancing research, conservation, and protection of marine ecosystems.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/07/happy-world-ocean-day/