Global risks: Interactive map shows climate issues rising An overly simplistic view of global economics has fuelled climate denial and skepticism for decades. Some opponents of climate change mitigation policies argue that achieving any progress would require an impossible retrofitting of our economy and result in lower profits and fewer jobs. In reality, in many ways, climate action will help businesses be more resilient in tomorrow’s economy. Interestingly, the rapid and widespread outbreak of COVID-19 has given the world an opportunity to test the hypothesis of whether and how an economic shutdown might affect climate outcomes. Initial data suggests that 2020 annual emissions could decrease by as much as seven percent globally due to the downward shift in energy demand worldwide. Climate change poses an urgent threat demanding decisive action. The World Economic Forum's Climate Initiative supports the scaling and acceleration of global climate action through public and private-sector collaboration. Contact us to get involved.
5 reasons why biodiversity matters to health and the economy Biodiversity is critically important to human health, economies and livelihoods. Humans have caused the loss of 83% of all wild animals and half of all plants. To mark the International Day for Biodiversity, here are five reasons why biodiversity matters to humans – and why we need to protect it. Biodiversity is critically important – to your health, to your safety and, probably, to your business or livelihood. But biodiversity – the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems – is declining globally, faster than at any other time in human history. In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, we break down the five ways in which biodiversity supports our economies and enhances our wellbeing – and has the potential to do even more. 1. Biodiversity underpins global nutrition and food security. People once understood that the conservation of species was crucial for healthy societies and ecosystems. 2. First, plants are essential for medicines. 3. 4. 5.
The Global Risks Report 2020 The 15th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report is published as critical risks are manifesting. The global economy is facing an increased risk of stagnation, climate change is striking harder and more rapidly than expected, and fragmented cyberspace threatens the full potential of next-generation technologies — all while citizens worldwide protest political and economic conditions and voice concerns about systems that exacerbate inequality. The challenges before us demand immediate collective action, but fractures within the global community appear to only be widening. Stakeholders need to act quickly and with purpose within an unsettled global landscape. Read the Japanese version here日本語はこちら
Green Brexit: a new era for farming, fishing and the environment I want to thank Prosperity UK for organising this conference and in particular, Lord Hill of Oareford, Sir Paul Marshall and Alex Hickman who have been the dynamos who have ensured that today can occur. And they, like the team that run Prosperity UK, are determined to bring together individuals from across the political spectrum to develop policies for Britain’s future outside the European Union (EU). Their committee is composed of both those who argued that we should Leave the EU and also those who believed that we should Remain But they are united by the belief that, whatever positions individuals may have been adopted in the past it’s important that all of us now focus on the opportunities of the future. I want to set out, in a second, where I believe some of those opportunities specifically lie. But more than sixteen million of our fellow citizens voted to Remain. Many people voted to Remain because they understandably feared the economic consequences of leaving. CAP reform Fisheries
25 Year Environment Plan Our environment plan sets out our goals for improving the environment, within a generation, and leaving it in a better state than we found it. It details how we in government will work with communities and businesses to do this. It sets out what we will be doing over the next 25 years. Alongside the plan, we’ve published 3 detailed, technical annexes. We published the first annual progress report in May 2019. The Plan sits alongside two other important government strategies: our Industrial Strategy and our Clean Growth strategy. If you want to receive updates on our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment, please register as a stakeholder. Horticultural Research by Stockbridge Technology Centre Precision approaches for sustainable soils - CHAP Challenge: Agricultural production needs to increase by 60% by 2050 in order to feed the growing global population. Despite this, improvements to crop yields have shown signs of having plateaued, while pressure on farmers to produce crops sustainably with fewer inputs has grown. The arable sector also faces the need to meet other key production challenges, as driven by political, societal and environmental pressures. These include reduction of soil erosion and surface water pollution, fixing of atmospheric nitrogen and recycling of unused soil nitrogen, and, critically, the management and improvement of soil health, which underpins productivity as well as environmental benefits. Precision approaches and technologies will play a key role in successful, economically viable and resilient management of crop systems to maximise soil health gains, while supporting yield resilience. Methodology: Living mulches, soil health, and grand challenges:
A move towards precision farming will lead to an improved farm ecosystem - CHAP The green revolution was ushered in by new chemistry, mechanisation and advances in plant breeding. The results were miraculous gains in crop yields around the globe, but at what cost? The increased reliance on petroleum-based inputs transformed the image of agriculture into one of the dirtiest industries in the world. At the same time, increased yields from plant breeding seems to have been achieved at the cost of lower levels of key nutrients in the food produced. Precision revolution Now we are at the forefront of a new revolution guided by precision technologies with the potential to change agriculture into something more sustainable and beneficial to consumers. These technologies have obvious positives such as using less heavy and fuel hungry vehicles and less inputs applied which all saves money and time (which famously is money). Wider Benefits Less obvious, but arguably more valuable outcomes, include the potential restoration of soil and wider ecosystem health. Collaboration is key
Agri-Tech Innovation Centre - Crop Health & Protection (CHAP) UK Five new ways to find higher value from crop waste - CHAP Yorkshire and the Humber host a world-class research base in a strongly agricultural region. So it’s perhaps not surprising that the area is full of new ideas for finding value from agricultural residues. BioVale is an organisation that supports innovation for the bioeconomy across the region. Elspeth Bartlet of BioVale shares five of her favourite innovations making more from crop waste. 1 Car batteries from potato starch Yorkshire and the Humber is great at growing potatoes and home to major potato processors, such as McCains and Branston. 2 Cosmetics from food waste The cosmetics industry is responding to rising demand from consumers to replace fossil fuel derivatives with natural product ingredients. 3 Food packaging from tomato skins Tomato skins contain a waxy, water-repellent substance called cutin. 4 High-value chemicals and biobased composites from wheat straw 5 Designed co-products The crops of the future might not generate any residues.
Restoration of degraded grassland can benefit climate change mitigation and key ecosystem services - CABI.org New research has demonstrated how, in contrast to encroachment by the invasive alien tree species Prosopis julifora (known as `Mathenge` in Kenya or `Promi` in Baringo), the restoration of grasslands in tropical semi-arid regions can both mitigate the impacts of climate change and restore key benefits usually provided by healthy grasslands for pastoralists and agro-pastoralist communities. A team of Kenyan and Swiss scientists, including lead author Ms. Purity Rima Mbaabu, affiliated to Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation of University of Nairobi and Chuka University and Dr Urs Schaffner from CABI’s Swiss Centre in Delémont, assessed how invasion by P. julifora and the restoration of degraded grasslands affected soil organic carbon (SOC), biodiversity and fodder availability. Grasslands comprise 40% of the Earth’s natural vegetation and contain a substantial amount of the world’s SOC. Ms. Additional information Full paper reference
About the Invasive Species Compendium The Invasive Species Compendium (ISC) is an encyclopedic resource that brings together a wide range of different types of science-based information to support decision-making in invasive species management worldwide. The US Department of Agriculture is a lead partner with CABI in the development of this Compendium which has been resourced by a diverse international Consortium of government departments, non-governmental organizations and private companies (further information is provided on this page). The ISC could not have been produced without the collaboration of experts from around the world. See Contributors for the list of the authors, reviewers and consultants who have helped develop the Compendium. Breakdown of content in the ISC Species information portals For certain high profile species, information portal pages are accessible from the homepage and corresponding datasheets. Datasheets Pathway causes (the reasons why a species is transported, whether accidentally or deliberately).