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Mighty Earth asserts that the meat industry's reliance on factory farming and deforestation in the Amazon fuels the current pandemic and increases the likelihood of future disease outbreaks. The organization calls on supermarkets to cease contracts with companies like JBS and Cargill due to their roles in climate change, mass extinctions, and unsafe working conditions.

The report evaluates global security threats under two warming scenarios: a 'Near Term' scenario (1-2°C) and a 'Medium-Long Term' scenario (2-4+°C). It concludes that even low levels of warming present high to very high risks, while higher warming levels pose catastrophic and potentially irreversible threats to global stability. The analysis is structured around U.S. Geographic Combatant Command areas, detailing how climate-induced physical shocks and social tensions act as threat multipliers that can lead to state failure, resource conflict, and the breakdown of international alliances.

The Global Futures project uses a new integrated environment-economy model to quantify the economic risks of biodiversity loss. Under a 'Business-as-Usual' scenario, the loss of six key ecosystem services is projected to reduce annual global GDP by 0.67% by 2050, totaling a cumulative loss of US$ 9.87 trillion. Conversely, a 'Global Conservation' scenario could result in a net annual gain of US$ 490 billion compared to the BAU scenario. The report highlights that low-income countries and coastal infrastructure in high-income nations are most vulnerable, and recommends a 'New Deal for Nature and People' including the protection of 30% of land and oceans.

The report finds that donors must double their current annual contributions to food security, adding 14 billion USD per year, while low- and middle-income countries must provide an additional 19 billion USD annually through taxes. These combined investments of 33 billion USD per year would prevent 490 million people from hunger and double the incomes of 545 million smallholders. The analysis emphasizes that Africa has the highest need for these funds and recommends a balanced investment strategy across three categories: enabling inclusion, on-farm productivity, and post-harvest food systems.

The report finds that donors must provide an additional USD 14 billion per year, and low- and middle-income countries must provide USD 19 billion per year, to achieve SDG 2 targets by 2030 while respecting climate commitments. This investment would prevent 490 million people from experiencing hunger and double the incomes of 545 million small-scale producers. The authors emphasize that Africa has the greatest need for these resources and that a balanced portfolio of interventions—spanning social protection, on-farm productivity, and market access—is essential for success.

The document examines the impact of COVID-19-related food export restrictions on vulnerable importing nations. It identifies high-risk areas in Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, noting that many affected countries already suffer from high undernourishment and calorie production deficits. The authors argue that because global food stocks remain plentiful, countries should refrain from banning staple food exports to prevent hunger and potential famines.

The report finds that current efforts by companies and governments are insufficient to meet the 2020 goal of eliminating deforestation from agricultural supply chains. While some progress has been made in palm oil and timber, commitments for soy and cattle remain low, and reporting on implementation is often inadequate and self-reported. The document highlights a shift toward jurisdictional approaches in producer countries and the introduction of demand-side regulations in consumer regions like the EU and California.

The document analyzes how human land use drives climate change and how climate change, in turn, degrades land. It highlights that while land currently acts as a net carbon sink, it could become a source of emissions. The brief emphasizes the role of agriculture and deforestation in land degradation and warns that current policy trajectories could significantly expand drylands and threaten global food security. It argues that sustainable land management, incorporating indigenous knowledge and gender-sensitive policies, is essential for limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The IAI Directorate implemented several initiatives between 2018 and 2019 to strengthen science-policy interfaces and regional cooperation. Key activities included signing a Memorandum of Understanding with IPBES, co-hosting a South-South Cooperation workshop on climate and sustainable development in Uruguay, and joining the Belmont Forum Steering Committee. The Directorate also explored becoming a Readiness Delivery Partner for the Green Climate Fund in Latin America and engaged with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research on a new climate change initiative. Efforts to improve science communication included a social media campaign and discussions with the American Chemical Society and the Earth Journalism Network.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on its 2018-2019 efforts to strengthen science-policy interfaces and international partnerships. Key activities include signing a Memorandum of Understanding with IPBES, collaborating with UNOSSC on South-South cooperation for urban climate resilience in South American megacities, and pursuing an Associate status with the Green Climate Fund. The IAI also joined the Belmont Forum Steering Committee and explored a cooperative research action on food security and climate change with France's National Research Agency, attracting interest from Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Additionally, the report details engagements with the IPCC, the European Commission, and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to foster intercontinental cooperation on climate risks.

The document analyzes the relationship between the Turkish government under the AKP and the Muslim minority in Western Thrace, Greece. It argues that Turkish policy shifted from a pro-Western, democratic approach in the early 2000s to a nationalist project that views the minority as a political tool for regional hegemony. This shift is linked to the 'Strategic Depth' ideology of Ahmet Davutoğlu and the domestic political needs of the AKP, leading to increased tensions with Greece, particularly after the 2016 coup attempt.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has announced the results of its Small Grant Program (SGP-HW) call for proposals. Following a multi-stage review process involving the IAI Directorate, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and external researchers, 10 proposals were shortlisted from an initial 92. Four projects were selected for immediate funding, three were approved subject to resource availability, and three were recommended for alternate funding. The program emphasizes transdisciplinary research and participatory approaches involving policy makers and stakeholders, with grants up to USD 200,000 to support research, capacity building, and data management.

The document explores how green bonds can support Brazil's agricultural sector, noting that while the forestry sector has successfully used these instruments, sustainable agriculture remains underfunded. It highlights the underutilization of government programs like the ABC Program and suggests that securitizing small loans via Certificados de Recebíveis do Agronegócio (CRA) and leveraging bank-issued green bonds could bridge the financing gap for sustainable practices.

Mighty Earth criticizes McDonald’s and Whole Foods for sourcing meat from Cargill and Tyson, companies it identifies as major drivers of rainforest destruction in South America and water pollution in the United States. The organization asserts that industrial meat production contributes approximately 15% of global climate pollution and occupies 80% of global agricultural land. Mighty Earth is campaigning across the United States to pressure these retailers to establish environmental standards for their meat supply chains.

Climate Central analyzed temperature data from 244 U.S. cities to determine the increase in days falling within the 61-93°F range suitable for disease transmission by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. The analysis found that 94% of these cities are experiencing an increase in these 'disease danger days' since 1970, with significant increases noted in California, the Southwest, and some northern cities. While most areas face higher risks, some locations like Phoenix may become too hot for mosquito survival. The report also highlights that warmer temperatures shorten the Extrinsic Incubation Period (EIP) of viruses, potentially increasing the number of infectious mosquitoes and expanding the range of species like Aedes albopictus.

The study estimates that tropospheric ozone significantly reduces global yields for soybean, wheat, rice, and maize, with the highest losses occurring in regions already stressed by pests, heat, and nutrient deficiencies. It advocates for integrating ozone tolerance into crop breeding programmes and altering management approaches to close the 'ozone yield gap'.

The Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR-Vegetation) analyzed ozone metrics across over 3,300 vegetated sites globally, focusing on M12, AOT40, and W126. Findings indicate that the highest ozone values (2010–14) are concentrated in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere, while the lowest are found in parts of Australia, New Zealand, South America, Europe, Canada, and the USA. Between 1995 and 2014, ozone trends showed a significant decrease in North America, no change in Europe, and a significant increase in East Asia. The report recommends expanding ozone monitoring, investigating peri-urban and mountain agriculture, and establishing region-specific damage thresholds.

The document outlines projected climate impacts for Latin America and the Caribbean, including temperature increases of up to 4.5 °C, rising sea levels, and glacier loss. These changes are expected to disrupt water runoff, reduce agricultural and livestock yields, and threaten biodiversity, specifically coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest. The paper concludes that the region faces severe risks to human health, infrastructure, and livelihoods due to the potential for simultaneous and compounding impacts.

The document highlights that companies pledging to end deforestation by 2020 have approximately 1,000 days remaining. It cites the Brazilian Soy Moratorium as a successful precedent where soy-driven deforestation in the Amazon dropped to almost zero in under 1,000 days. The author specifically identifies Bunge and Cargill as being responsible for the majority of soy destruction in frontier areas and calls for employees and customers of these firms to pressure them to change their practices.

The Socio-Climate Benefits Fund (SCBF) is designed to combat small-scale deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by providing long-term investment and technical training to smallholders for the implementation of agroforestry systems. The instrument operates through an investment vehicle that establishes a company to manage Rural Partnership Agreements, providing upfront capital and inputs in exchange for a share of the harvest. The fund aims to increase smallholder income by at least 58% for 1-hectare implementations and 234% for 4-hectare expansions, while storing ten times more carbon than current degraded pasture vegetation over 20 years. The financial structure requires a total of $13.1 million, comprising a $1.5 million grant, $5 million in commercial equity, and $6.6 million in concessional debt across first-loss and senior tranches.