• Ocean

UN Report Says Countries Must Implement Ocean-Based Solutions to Fight Climate Change

• carbon sink
• climate change
• Nationally Determined Contributions
• ocean
• shipping
• UN
• United Nations

A new report released last week by the United Nations found that the countries of the world aren’t taking ocean health as seriously as they should in the fight against climate change. The oceans provide a key function in absorbing carbon and heat from the atmosphere. 

Why This Matters: The ocean has been a critical buffer against climate change, absorbing carbon and supporting ecosystems that prevent flooding, sustain communities, and more.

• Forests

In Sweden, Ancient Forests Replaced by Monoculture 

• carbon sink
• deforestation
• ecosystem
• ecosystem services
• indigenous communities
• old growth
• Sweden
• timber

Tree planting seems like a straightforward, positive climate solution: plant trees to soak up carbon, green urban spaces, reduce heat. However, in Sweden, nearly a fifth of the country’s ancient growth forests have been cut down since 2000 as part of the country’s timber products sector. 

Why This Matters: The Swedish forestry model causes many of the same harms as deforestation even with no tree replacement.

• Ocean

Bottom Trawling Fishing Gear Releases Huge Amounts of Carbon From Sea Floor

• #30x30
• bottom trawling
• carbon
• carbon sink
• fishing

The ocean floor stores a massive amount of carbon, and when fishing boats drag heavy nets across it, that releases as much carbon as the entire aviation industry, according to a new study by 26 marine biologists. Right now, a measly 7% of the ocean is protected, and even within parts of the ocean that are marine protected areas, bottom trawling is still happening.

• Ocean

New Study: Protect 30% of Ocean by 2030, Boost Fisheries, and Sequester Carbon

• #30x30
• carbon sequestration
• carbon sink
• fisheries
• food security
• ocean conservation

A new study published in Nature by 26 authors from around the world details the overlooked benefits of ocean protections that would be secured if countries protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 — and provides a blueprint of the best areas for conservation. 

Why This Matters: Protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030 could ensure the health of key biomes while also boosting ocean-reliant economies, many of which need a jumpstart due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Forests

Bolsonaro’s Military Strategy Fails to Protect Amazon from Deforestation

• Amazon
• Bolsonaro
• Brazil
• carbon sink
• fires
• logging
• mining
• rainforest

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s most recent effort to reduce the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has failed, The Washington Post reports. Bolsonaro’s plan to deploy military troops and take illegal mining operations by surprise ultimately failed when miners got wind of it. 

Why This Matters: The health of the Amazon rainforest is crucial in the fight against climate change.

• Forests

Hundreds of CA’s Giant Sequoias Destroyed By Wildfires

• carbon sink
• Castle Fire
• climate change
• Fire
• forest
• Sequoias

Hundreds of giant sequoia trees were killed in the Castle Fire in California, according to experts. Despite being naturally resistant to fire, sequoias, the world’s most massive trees, the intensity of recent wildfires has done more damage than the trees can handle.

Why This Matters: The fiery death of these trees is a canary in a coal mine.