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 – 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/

  • 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/

  • 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

  • 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

  • Solutions to climate change: Johan Rockström on rainforest conservation

    Healthy forests, including the Amazon rainforest, are losing their ability to store carbon due to factors like forest fires, disease outbreaks, and unsustainable timber extraction. Rising temperatures and water scarcity are further limiting their capacity to absorb carbon, with tropical deforestation at unacceptably high levels. The Amazon rainforest is close to a tipping point where it may not recover, impacting Indigenous communities and neighboring areas. Conservation efforts, like those of Cool Earth, and providing unconditional cash to those protecting the rainforest are crucial solutions to prevent further deforestation and support responsible stewardship. Supporting Indigenous communities in the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, and the Congo is essential to prevent irreversible degradation and maintain the crucial role rainforests play in climate solutions.

    https://www.coolearth.org/news/johan-rockstrom-solutions-to-climate-change-rainforest-interview/

  • The king of the Andes: How a village learned to coexist with condors

    Doris Torres, a sheepherder in Colombia, has transformed from seeing Andean condors as enemies to becoming a conservationist, helping bring condors back to the mountains. Working with Fernando Castro, villagers have created a safe haven for condors, with plans to release young condors bred in captivity into the wild. The community is preparing for this next step, aiming to release at least three juveniles by the end of 2027. The Andean condor plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by cleaning decomposing meat and preventing diseases, and their population in Colombia is critically endangered. The section discusses the importance of integrating communities into condor conservation strategies in the Andean region, focusing on protecting and releasing young condors back into the wild to ensure their survival and well-being in their natural habitat.

    https://news.mongabay.com/video/2026/08/the-king-of-the-andes-how-a-village-learned-to-coexist-with-condors/

  • ‘To speak of agroecology is to speak of farmers’ autonomy’: Interview with Olga Muthambe

    Olga Muthambe, a Mozambican social activist and Executive Director of the NGO Hikone Moçambique, advocates for agroecology as a response to challenges faced by rural women affected by extractive industries and armed conflict. Through her organization, over 1,600 women in Mozambique are participating in agroecological practice programs, empowering them to produce pesticide-free food for consumption and trade, improving food security, and generating income. Agroecology is highlighted as a key solution for sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and promoting farmers' autonomy. The organization focuses on empowering rural women facing social vulnerability and addresses issues such as displacement, expropriation of land, and labor exploitation by extractive industries, ultimately promoting food security and economic autonomy for women in Mozambique.

    https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/to-speak-of-agroecology-is-to-speak-of-farmers-autonomy-interview-with-olga-muthambe/