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The Fokonolona community of Sakatia island in Madagascar is opposing a project by GREEN MADA LAND to build a hotel complex on a 17-hectare plot of land. The community argues that the project, described as a 'presidential project', violates their human rights, threatens biodiversity—specifically turtle nesting areas—and endangers their rice fields and livelihoods. They demand the cancellation of the long-term lease, transparency from authorities, and the recognition of their land ownership and right to free prior informed consent.

The Fokonolona community of Sakatia Island in Madagascar is opposing a project by GREEN MADA LAND to build a hotel complex on 17 hectares of land. The community argues that the project, described as a 'presidential project', threatens their livelihoods, human rights, and local biodiversity, including turtle nesting sites and rice fields. They demand the cancellation of the lease, transparency from authorities, and the recognition of their community land rights.

Carbon Market Watch argues for stricter transparency, monitoring, and liability frameworks for carbon removal activities under the Article 6.4 mechanism. The organization proposes that all removal-based credits be publicly tagged, monitoring periods be extended to a minimum of 100 years, and a clear distinction be made between 'avoidable' and 'unavoidable' reversals to ensure project proponents bear appropriate financial liability. It further suggests the implementation of a minimum default risk rating for buffer pool contributions and the ability to permanently ban proponents who violate human rights or cause repeated avoidable reversals.

The guidance introduces the 'Triple A' framework (Ambition, Action, and Accountability) and five specific 'Hallmarks' to evaluate corporate transition plans. It emphasizes that credible plans must feature science-based, time-bound targets covering all material GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), detailed financial plans, and strong board-level governance. The document warns against the over-reliance on carbon offsets and the use of national NDCs as a substitute for sectoral science-based pathways, while advocating for annual third-party verification to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Asia Pacific Regional Biomass Working Group urges the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to cease support for wood bioenergy and the 'repurposing' of coal plants, arguing that biomass co-firing extends the life of coal infrastructure and causes severe ecological and social harm. The group highlights that in Indonesia, PT PLN's co-firing strategy could require 2.33 million hectares of energy plantations, potentially leading to 2.1 million hectares of deforestation annually. The letter demands that ADB recognize bioenergy as contradictory to coal phase-out goals, divest from wood biomass projects, and identify the sector as high-risk.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and Panama's SENACYT organized a training program in science diplomacy for decision-makers in the Americas. The program includes a field trip to Coiba National Park and a three-day workshop focusing on the intersection of science, policy, and international relations to address global environmental change (GEC), including climate change and biodiversity loss. It aims to strengthen regional cooperation and evidence-based policymaking through modules on national strategies, intergovernmental processes (such as the UNFCCC and CBD), and scientific advising.

The IAI Executive Directorate has advanced several strategic mandates from CoP-31, including the launch of a climate, environment, and health research program, the establishment of an Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Regions Committee, and the expansion of scientific diplomacy initiatives. Key achievements include the distribution of initial grants to 12 research teams across 15 countries, the development of partnerships with the University of the West Indies and the Global Change Research Center in Paraguay, and the implementation of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship with 45 fellows. The Directorate is also coordinating regional efforts on the Amazon and tropical forests, as well as enhancing gender and indigenous inclusion through new advisory committees and targeted funding for underrepresented researchers.

The report analyzes the impact of the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) on Brazil, highlighting the alignment between EU requirements and Brazilian policies like the Forest Code and CAR. While these tools offer opportunities for Brazil to certify its sustainable production, challenges remain regarding the short implementation deadline, the disproportionate cost burden on smallholders, and the lack of a national traceability system for commodity chains.

The report presents a comprehensive four-component framework—Baseline and Ambition, Initiatives, Instruments, and Governance and Implementation—designed to help countries safeguard and restore natural capital. It details 14 subcomponents, ranging from natural capital assessments and the creation of a national vision to the deployment of regulatory and financial instruments. The framework emphasizes an iterative process, utilizing tools like marginal abatement cost curves for prioritizing initiatives and gap assessments to identify policy voids. It specifically highlights the economic risks of nature loss in Africa, such as the potential for nature-related risks to double expected financing losses in agriculture by 2030, while noting opportunities in the blue economy. The framework was piloted in Ghana with a wide range of government and private sector stakeholders.

The document examines the nexus between the AfCFTA, biodiversity, and agriculture, noting that while the agreement can boost agricultural growth and regional value chains, it lacks strong, explicit commitments to biodiversity conservation. It warns that trade liberalisation could lead to natural resource depletion, the displacement of smallholder farmers, and the promotion of monoculture. To counter these risks, the authors advocate for 'biodiversity-based agriculture' (eco-functional intensification) and the alignment of trade negotiations with multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Key recommendations include establishing common frameworks for non-tariff barriers, protecting indigenous genetic resources through intellectual property rights, and investing in capacity development for small-scale farmers who produce approximately 80% of Africa's food.

The guide outlines a 'ripple effect' model for individual climate action, structured as five concentric circles: Learn, Do, Share, Advocate, and Amplify. It argues that while individual lifestyle changes like eating less meat or biking are starting points, the greatest impact is achieved by expanding one's sphere of influence to include community communication and the urging of high-impact 'change makers' such as lawmakers and CEOs to implement systemic solutions.

The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) is a global project designed to bridge the gap between promising land restoration concepts and 'investor-ready' projects. Managed by IDH and co-promoted by the UNCCD and Mirova, the TAF provides technical, operational, and financial assistance to SMEs, cooperatives, and private companies. It focuses on two main components: improving the technical quality and impact of projects (both pre- and post-investment) and establishing a knowledge management system through a Learning Network. The facility aims to increase private investment in sustainable land management (SLM), particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while aligning with the UNCCD's Land Degradation Neutrality targets.

The Center for Climate and Security (CCS) submitted recommendations for the First National Nature Assessment (NNA1), which is scheduled for completion in 2026. CCS advocates for expanding the assessment's geographic scope to include ecosystems near US installations abroad and broadening the analysis of nature-based solutions, food and water security, and human migration. Specifically, CCS suggests including unprotected nature and anthropogenic ecosystems in hazard aversion analysis, conducting benefit-cost comparisons between nature-based and synthetic solutions, and examining the impact of international ecological changes on US supply chains.

A coalition of international and Scottish organizations is calling on the Scottish Government to challenge the Batang Toru dam project in Indonesia. The project, developed by SDIC Power and its Edinburgh-based subsidiary Red Rock Power, threatens the Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape. The letter highlights environmental risks, human rights abuses, and the contradiction between the project and Scotland's biodiversity and just transition commitments.

The document provides a detailed critique of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's (PMRA) Notice of Intent 2023-01, arguing that proposed regulatory changes are insufficient to protect biodiversity and human health. The coalition demands mandatory cumulative risk assessments that go beyond 'common mechanisms of toxicity,' more protective thresholds for species at risk, greater transparency for confidential test data, and the establishment of domestic MRLs based on Canadian use patterns rather than international trade alignment.

A coalition of health and environmental experts and NGOs argues that removing specific provisions of the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Regulations 2018 would weaken accountability, transparency, and public scrutiny regarding the UK's air pollution reduction plans. The letter contends that these regulations provide a more robust framework for plan-making than the Environment Act 2021 and are essential for protecting vulnerable populations and biodiversity.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, spanning from Afghanistan to Myanmar, faces severe threats from cascading climate risks that propagate across national borders. The brief asserts that local and national adaptation efforts are insufficient and proposes a regional cooperation mechanism involving state and non-state actors. This mechanism would aim to reduce the costs of climate action, overcome resource constraints, and enhance climate diplomacy through four priority areas: research and knowledge exchange, governance and policy support, diplomacy and coalition building, and implementation and finance.

The document is a joint call from 200 civil society organisations for the European Union to implement a robust Nature Restoration Law. The signatories argue that current efforts are inadequate to combat mass biodiversity extinction and climate breakdown, which are manifesting in Europe as frequent droughts, floods, and forest fires. They demand the safeguarding of specific legal elements, including enforceable targets for all terrestrial and marine habitats, the restoration of agricultural ecosystems and peatlands, and the provision of dedicated funding and access to justice.

ClientEarth and 47 experts urge the UK government to remove specific air quality regulations from the 'kill list' of the Retained EU Law (REUL) Act 2023. These regulations mandate the creation, implementation, and public consultation of the National Air Pollution Control Programme (NAPCP), which is the primary tool for meeting legally binding emission reduction commitments (ERCs) for five major pollutants. The briefing contends that the Environmental Improvement Plan for England does not provide a sufficient legal substitute, and that revoking these laws would undermine transparency and the UK's ability to address failing emission targets for pollutants like PM2.5.

The document examines how hydropower in Sweden is shifting from a baseload power source to a flexibility provider to balance intermittent renewables like wind and solar. This transition, coupled with industrial expansion in northern Sweden, increases the risk of ecological damage through hydropeaking and river regulation. The authors argue for a comprehensive, evidence-based planning approach that balances energy demands with biodiversity and community needs.