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The report finds that the world is not on track to meet the Goal 1 target of halving natural forest loss by 2020. Between 2014 and 2018, average annual global gross tree cover loss increased by 43 percent compared to a 2001-13 baseline. Carbon emissions from tropical tree cover loss also rose, averaging 57 percent higher than before the declaration. While Indonesia saw a significant decline in primary forest loss in 2018, tropical Africa experienced the highest percent increase in loss. The report highlights that primary forests are particularly critical due to their carbon storage and the fact that they cannot be restored within the NYDF timeframe.

The 2019 NYDF Progress Assessment finds that the world is not on track to meet its 2020 targets to halve tropical deforestation and restore 150 million hectares of degraded land. While some regional successes exist, such as a reduction in primary forest loss in Indonesia, global gross tree cover loss has increased by 43% since 2014. The report highlights a critical gap in finance, noting that 'green' finance for forests is dwarfed by 'grey' finance for agriculture, and argues that current corporate and government actions are too isolated and lack the ambition needed for systemic change.

The report assesses the environmental, social, and economic implications of establishing a heavy industrial hub focused on energy and metallurgy in the Musina-Makhado region. It identifies critical concerns including high water requirements in a water-scarce area, potential biodiversity loss, and the need for significant social infrastructure. The document outlines the proposed land uses, including coking, thermal power, and steel plants, and establishes a Plan of Study for a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Mighty Earth asserts that food-based biofuels are environmentally damaging, contributing to climate change through emissions and the release of sequestered soil carbon, while causing habitat loss and water contamination.

SEI utilizes the Robust Decision Support (RDS) process and the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system to create shared mental models for water management in California. In the Yuba River Basin, analysis showed that individual strategies, such as urban conservation, were insufficient to reduce regional vulnerabilities, necessitating a multi-strategy portfolio. In Yolo County, SEI evaluated groundwater sustainability based on groundwater levels, financial viability, and water reliability under various uncertainty scenarios, including climate and land-use change.

The analysis finds that between 2010 and 2014, tropical deforestation for agriculture and forestry caused approximately 2.6 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions annually, with cattle and oilseed products accounting for over half. International trade drove between 29% and 39% of these emissions, with Europe and China identified as major importers. In EU countries, deforestation emissions represent about 15% of the total carbon footprint of food consumption.

The report evaluates the hydrological impact of climate change on the Lake Bunyonyi catchment within the Ruhezamyenda catchment in southwestern Uganda. Using the COSERO hydrological model and CMIP5 global climate model ensembles under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the study projects increases in temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration for the mid-term (20412070) and far future (20712100). While runoff trends show significant uncertainty, there is a general trend toward increasing runoff, particularly in the far future under RCP8.5. The report identifies 'no-regrets' adaptation options focusing on governance, land management, and data collection to address risks such as soil erosion, landslides, and wetland degradation.

The report identifies 5.5 million km2 of 'REMAIN' land in sub-Saharan Africa potentially available for biofuel production after accounting for food security and conservation. Under current conditions, RSB-compliant production on prime and good quality land could yield 165 mt of aviation biofuel per annum, with miscanthus identified as the most promising feedstock. However, this potential is projected to decrease by approximately 40% by 2050 due to cropland expansion for food and climate change impacts. The study concludes that the region could meet between 30% and 90% of the projected 2050 global demand for alternative aviation fuels, depending on whether moderately suitable land is utilized.

The PRINCE project developed a hybrid model combining Swedish national statistics with the EXIOBASE MRIO database to track environmental pressures from Swedish consumption between 2008 and 2014. The research found an absolute decoupling between economic growth and several key environmental pressures, including greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, although GHG reductions remain insufficient for the Paris Agreement. Most environmental pressures from Swedish consumption, particularly hazardous chemical use and water consumption, occur outside Sweden, with China identified as a major geographic hotspot. The project also expanded indicators to cover deforestation, capture fisheries, and maritime shipping, highlighting that international trade drives a significant share of tropical deforestation emissions.

The report outlines a 'Target-Measure-Act' approach to reduce global food loss and waste, identifying regional hotspots—such as consumption in high-income regions and handling/storage in low-income regions—and proposing 10 scaling interventions to accelerate progress toward SDG 12.3.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is facilitating the participation of Latin American and Caribbean funding agencies in a Collaborative Research Action (CRA) on Food Security and Climate Change. This joint initiative, involving the Belmont Forum, the European Commission, and the EU Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) FACCE, aims to develop climate-resilient food value chains and assess the impacts of climate change on food systems across Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The program seeks to provide scientific knowledge to support Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), with the European Commission providing matching funds for eligible participating agencies.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is promoting a joint call by the Belmont Forum and the European Commission for a Collaborative Research Action (CRA) focused on the interactions between climate change and food systems. The initiative seeks to develop sustainable and resilient food value chains and assess climate impacts on markets, specifically targeting regional food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. The CRA aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 13 (Climate Action), offering funding opportunities, including potential matching funds from the European Commission via the ERANET Cofund mechanism, to support interdisciplinary research on agricultural food, waste residues, and socio-economic vulnerabilities in the Global South.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) criticizes the EPA's 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for prioritizing corn ethanol and soy biodiesel over cellulosic biofuels. While Congress intended cellulosic biofuels to comprise nearly one-third of the 2019 mandate, they account for only 2%. CATF asserts that the reliance on first-generation biofuels drives deforestation in Southeast Asia and Latin America and calls for Congressional intervention to fix the policy.

The document examines the gap between Brazil's agricultural importance and its limited use of green bonds for the sector, which has been primarily restricted to forestry and paper. It highlights that while government programs like the Low Carbon Agriculture Program (ABC) exist, they are underutilised due to complex application processes and a lack of understanding among financial institutions. The authors argue that green bonds and securitisation tools like Certificates of Agribusiness Receivables (CRA) could scale sustainable financing by aggregating small loans and attracting international capital.

The report establishes a framework for certifying forestry-related bonds, focusing on ensuring that funded projects contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. It defines eligible assets—including plantation forestry, sustainable forest management, and conservation/restoration projects—and sets specific requirements for mitigation and adaptation. Key measures include a prohibition on natural landscape conversion since 2010 and the use of a resilience checklist. The framework leverages existing industry standards, specifically FSC and PEFC, as proxies for many management requirements while adding specific climate-risk assessments.

The petition argues that the EPA's aggregate compliance scheme allows the conversion of millions of acres of native grasslands into corn and soy cropland, violating the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. This conversion is linked to significant greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and habitat loss. The petitioners request that the EPA require individualized proof of compliance for each biomass source and adjust renewable volume obligations to match the supply of EISA-compliant land.

The author contends that allowing year-round E15 sales is unlawful under the Clean Air Act and would increase the production of environmentally damaging corn ethanol. The document highlights risks to air quality via ozone formation and the failure of the Renewable Fuel Standard to deliver projected advanced biofuel benefits.

The report reveals that logging in the Solomon Islands is occurring at 19 times the sustainable rate, with natural forests predicted to be exhausted by 2036. It identifies systemic illegalities, including lack of landowner consent and breaches of logging codes, while noting that local communities see few benefits. China is identified as the dominant importer, purchasing 82% of the country's logs, and is urged to regulate its supply chain to mitigate commercial and environmental risks.

The study evaluates the impacts of sugarcane and jatropha biofuels in sub-Saharan Africa, finding that while sugarcane offers carbon-sequestration benefits and positive socioeconomic impacts for workers, jatropha failed to benefit local communities due to market collapse and low yields. Additionally, the adoption of household ethanol stoves in Maputo was hindered by high costs.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute criticizes a June 30, 2018, EPA report for omitting a comparative analysis between biofuels and petroleum. The statement asserts that biofuels generally offer better environmental and health outcomes than fossil fuels and highlights the role of cellulosic fuels in reducing methane emissions and waste. It further argues that biofuels are essential for meeting Paris Climate Accord goals, particularly in hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping.