Cacao farmers on the Ivory Coast, March 2024.Imago / ZUMA This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Around the world this holiday weekend, people will consume hundreds of millions of Easter eggs and bunnies, as part of an annual chocolate intake that can exceed 18 pounds for every person in the UK, or 11 pounds in the US and Europe. But a global shortage of cacao—the seed from which chocolate is made—has brought warnings of a “chocolate meltdown” that could see prices...…Cacao farmers on the Ivory Coast, March 2024.Imago / ZUMA This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Around the world this holiday weekend, people will consume hundreds of millions of Easter eggs and bunnies, as part of an annual chocolate intake that can exceed 18 pounds for every person in the UK, or 11 pounds in the US and Europe. But a global shortage of cacao—the seed from which chocolate is made—has brought warnings of a “chocolate meltdown” that could see prices...WW…

The forest carbon offsets approved by the world’s leading certifier and used by Disney, Shell, Gucci and other big corporations are largely worthless and could make global heating worse, according to a new investigation. The research into Verra, the world’s leading carbon standard for the rapidly growing $2bn (£1.6bn) voluntary offsets market, has found that, based on analysis of a significant percentage of the projects, more than 90% of their rainforest offset credits – among the most commonly used by companies – are likely to be “phantom credits” and do not represent genuine carbon...…The forest carbon offsets approved by the world’s leading certifier and used by Disney, Shell, Gucci and other big corporations are largely worthless and could make global heating worse, according to a new investigation. The research into Verra, the world’s leading carbon standard for the rapidly growing $2bn (£1.6bn) voluntary offsets market, has found that, based on analysis of a significant percentage of the projects, more than 90% of their rainforest offset credits – among the most commonly used by companies – are likely to be “phantom credits” and do not represent genuine carbon...WW…

Sweden’s announcement this week that it is to build a series of animal bridges is the latest in global efforts to help wildlife navigate busy roads The age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.35 EDT“During difficult climate conditions, these lichen lands can be extra important for the reindeer,” says Per Sandström, a landscape ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences who works as an intermediary between the Sami and authorities to improve the crossings.This week, Swedish authorities they would build up to a dozen “renoducts” (reindeer...…Sweden’s announcement this week that it is to build a series of animal bridges is the latest in global efforts to help wildlife navigate busy roads The age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.35 EDT“During difficult climate conditions, these lichen lands can be extra important for the reindeer,” says Per Sandström, a landscape ecologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences who works as an intermediary between the Sami and authorities to improve the crossings.This week, Swedish authorities they would build up to a dozen “renoducts” (reindeer...WW…

Reduced environmental protections and conservation job losses could hit vital progress on climate and biodiversity, research findsThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.35 EDTJob cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic could undermine global efforts to conserve biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis, according to new research.Budget cuts and a collapse in ecotourism revenue have forced national parks and conservation organisations to make staff cuts and reduce activities such as anti-poaching...…Reduced environmental protections and conservation job losses could hit vital progress on climate and biodiversity, research findsThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.35 EDTJob cuts in nature reserves and environmental rollbacks by governments during the Covid-19 pandemic could undermine global efforts to conserve biodiversity and tackle the climate crisis, according to new research.Budget cuts and a collapse in ecotourism revenue have forced national parks and conservation organisations to make staff cuts and reduce activities such as anti-poaching...WW…

This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldIncreasing land grabs endangering forest communities and wildlife as governments expand mining and agriculture to combat economic impact of CovidThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Thu 18 Feb 2021 10.02 ESTIndigenous communities in some of the world’s most forested tropical countries have faced a wave of human rights abuses during the Covid-19 pandemic as governments prioritise extractive industries in economic recovery plans, according to a new report.New mines, infrastructure projects and...…This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldIncreasing land grabs endangering forest communities and wildlife as governments expand mining and agriculture to combat economic impact of CovidThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Thu 18 Feb 2021 10.02 ESTIndigenous communities in some of the world’s most forested tropical countries have faced a wave of human rights abuses during the Covid-19 pandemic as governments prioritise extractive industries in economic recovery plans, according to a new report.New mines, infrastructure projects and...WW…

This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldCoalition says promise is key to preventing mass extinctions and ensuring clean air and waterThe age of extinction is supported byFirst published on Mon 11 Jan 2021 08.28 ESTA coalition of more than 50 countries has committed to protect almost a third of the planet by 2030 to halt the destruction of the natural world and slow extinctions of wildlife.The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, which includes the UK and countries from six continents, made the pledge to protect at least 30% of the planet’s...…This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldCoalition says promise is key to preventing mass extinctions and ensuring clean air and waterThe age of extinction is supported byFirst published on Mon 11 Jan 2021 08.28 ESTA coalition of more than 50 countries has committed to protect almost a third of the planet by 2030 to halt the destruction of the natural world and slow extinctions of wildlife.The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, which includes the UK and countries from six continents, made the pledge to protect at least 30% of the planet’s...WW…

This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldHighways England scheme to encourage species-rich grasslands could create hundreds of miles of rare habitats after decades of lossThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.36 EDTNative wildflower meadows will line the verges of all new large-scale road projects under an initiative by Highways England, the Guardian can reveal.Nodding blue harebells, clusters of yellow kidney vetch and flashes of bird’s-foot-trefoil could soon become the norm on stretches of the road network in England with...…This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldHighways England scheme to encourage species-rich grasslands could create hundreds of miles of rare habitats after decades of lossThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.36 EDTNative wildflower meadows will line the verges of all new large-scale road projects under an initiative by Highways England, the Guardian can reveal.Nodding blue harebells, clusters of yellow kidney vetch and flashes of bird’s-foot-trefoil could soon become the norm on stretches of the road network in England with...WW…

This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldFikile Ntshangase was involved in legal dispute over extension of coalmine in KwaZulu-NatalLast modified on Fri 23 Oct 2020 13.32 EDTA South African environmental activist who opposed the extension of a coalmine near her home has been shot dead in her home.Fikile Ntshangase, 65, was involved in a legal dispute over the extension of an opencast mine operated by Tendele Coal near Somkhele, close to Hluhluwe–Imfolozi park, the oldest nature reserve in .Local police told the Guardian that four men entered Ntshangase’s home...…This article is more than 1 year oldThis article is more than 1 year oldFikile Ntshangase was involved in legal dispute over extension of coalmine in KwaZulu-NatalLast modified on Fri 23 Oct 2020 13.32 EDTA South African environmental activist who opposed the extension of a coalmine near her home has been shot dead in her home.Fikile Ntshangase, 65, was involved in a legal dispute over the extension of an opencast mine operated by Tendele Coal near Somkhele, close to Hluhluwe–Imfolozi park, the oldest nature reserve in .Local police told the Guardian that four men entered Ntshangase’s home...WW…

‘Humanity at a crossroads’ after a decade in which all of the 2010 Aichi goals to protect wildlife and ecosystems have been missed The age of extinction is supported byTue 15 Sep 2020 09.15 EDTLast modified on Tue 15 Sep 2020 09.31 EDTThe world has failed to meet a single target to stem the destruction of wildlife and life-sustaining ecosystems in the last decade, according to a devastating new report from the UN on the state of nature.From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community did not fully achieve any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets in 2010 to slow...…‘Humanity at a crossroads’ after a decade in which all of the 2010 Aichi goals to protect wildlife and ecosystems have been missed The age of extinction is supported byTue 15 Sep 2020 09.15 EDTLast modified on Tue 15 Sep 2020 09.31 EDTThe world has failed to meet a single target to stem the destruction of wildlife and life-sustaining ecosystems in the last decade, according to a devastating new report from the UN on the state of nature.From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community did not fully achieve any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets in 2010 to slow...WW…

This article is more than 2 years oldThis article is more than 2 years oldAnimal populations have plunged an average of 68% since 1970, as humanity pushes the planet’s life-support systems to the edgeThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.37 EDTWildlife populations are in freefall around the world, driven by human overconsumption, population growth and intensive agriculture, according to a major new assessment of the abundance of life on Earth.On average, global populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles plunged by 68% between 1970 and...…This article is more than 2 years oldThis article is more than 2 years oldAnimal populations have plunged an average of 68% since 1970, as humanity pushes the planet’s life-support systems to the edgeThe age of extinction is supported byLast modified on Fri 29 Oct 2021 07.37 EDTWildlife populations are in freefall around the world, driven by human overconsumption, population growth and intensive agriculture, according to a major new assessment of the abundance of life on Earth.On average, global populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles plunged by 68% between 1970 and...WW…