PRISM’s Post

This year’s theme for World Environment Day is #GenerationRestoration. This year is all about accelerating action on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. We cannot turn back time, but we can grow forests, revive water sources, and bring back soils. Peat bogs get less attention than trees when it comes to climate change, but they are one of the most vital carbon stores worldwide. But what are Peat Bogs and why are they so important? Our ESG Analyst, Madeleine Brown, explains: https://lnkd.in/dDMEy6RT #WorldEnvironmentDay #PeatBogs #ESG #LandRestoration

Peat bogs get less attention than trees when it comes to climate change, but they are one of the most vital carbon stores worldwide. But what are Peat Bogs and why are they so important? Inspired PLC's ESG Analyst, Madeleine Brown, explains: https://lnkd.in/dt-zRDHm #WorldEnvironmentDay #PeatBogs #ESG #LandRestoration #GenerationRestoration

The existence of forests as one of the essential components in the ecosystem is increasingly threatened. Based on the FAO report, it is estimated that since 1990 there have been around 420 million hectares of forest lost due to land conversion. In addition, between 2015 and 2020, the global deforestation rate is estimated at 10 million hectares per year. With these conditions, the existence of forests will be increasingly threatened. Forest fires have a devastating effect on the environment: Homes, wildlife and plants are all destroyed by forest fires. It burns down the small shrubs and grasses, leading to landslides and soil erosion. Careless acts such as arson, unattended campfires, improperly discarded cigarettes, and reckless use of matches or fireworks stand as the foremost reasons behind wildfire ignitions. However, it is often the weather conditions that determine how much a wildfire grows. Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States. Other factors that can increase the risk of fires include deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development. The western US in general is an area experiencing climate warming along with rainfall reductions, the combination of which leads to more intense fires. This trend is only expected to worsen in the future. Governments play a crucial role in forest conservation by establishing regulations, providing support, and promoting sustainable practices. Governments must balance investing in fire suppression with measures to prevent wildfires long-term (e.g., reducing fuel loads, restoring ecosystems to natural fire patterns, and educating the public). One strategy is implementing land use policies that limit the risk of fire, incentivizing better land management, and encouraging stronger coordination across sectors to reduce conflicting land practices. Governments are also uniquely positioned to support research initiatives to gather wildfire data and analyze patterns. The Los Angeles winter wildfires have shocked the world, with a death toll of 16 and over 12,000 structures destroyed. Experts point to unusual weather patterns, including wet winters in 2022 and 2023 that fueled vegetation growth, followed by a dry 2024 season that turned plants into tinder. Climate change activists highlight the growing intensity of such disasters, while political figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk blame the California governor's environmental and DEI policies. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are organizational frameworks which seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability. Communities and Governments of the World have to come together to prevent our planet's destruction.

If deforestation is stopped and some 350 million hectares of destroyed and degraded forests are restored, they could sequester 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide each year. That's roughly what the United States emits each year.

The existence of forests as one of the essential components in the ecosystem is increasingly threatened. Based on the FAO report, it is estimated that since 1990 there have been around 420 million hectares of forest lost due to land conversion. In addition, between 2015 and 2020, the global deforestation rate is estimated at 10 million hectares per year. With these conditions, the existence of forests will be increasingly threatened. Forest fires have a devastating effect on the environment: Homes, wildlife and plants are all destroyed by forest fires. It burns down the small shrubs and grasses, leading to landslides and soil erosion. Careless acts such as arson, unattended campfires, improperly discarded cigarettes, and reckless use of matches or fireworks stand as the foremost reasons behind wildfire ignitions. However, it is often the weather conditions that determine how much a wildfire grows. Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States. Other factors that can increase the risk of fires include deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development. The western US in general is an area experiencing climate warming along with rainfall reductions, the combination of which leads to more intense fires. This trend is only expected to worsen in the future. Governments play a crucial role in forest conservation by establishing regulations, providing support, and promoting sustainable practices. Governments must balance investing in fire suppression with measures to prevent wildfires long-term (e.g., reducing fuel loads, restoring ecosystems to natural fire patterns, and educating the public). One strategy is implementing land use policies that limit the risk of fire, incentivizing better land management, and encouraging stronger coordination across sectors to reduce conflicting land practices. Governments are also uniquely positioned to support research initiatives to gather wildfire data and analyze patterns. The Los Angeles winter wildfires have shocked the world, with a death toll of 16 and over 12,000 structures destroyed. Experts point to unusual weather patterns, including wet winters in 2022 and 2023 that fueled vegetation growth, followed by a dry 2024 season that turned plants into tinder. Climate change activists highlight the growing intensity of such disasters, while political figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk blame the California governor's environmental and DEI policies. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are organizational frameworks which seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability. Communities and Governments of the World have to come together to prevent our planet's destruction.

Companies like Re.green are pioneering a new industry in the Amazon by restoring native trees on deforested pastureland and selling carbon credits, aiming to make standing trees more profitable than cattle ranching, in a bid to combat deforestation and climate change, although challenges remain in measuring carbon storage and preventing abuse of carbon credits. Read the full article and discover how innovative strategies are combating deforestation and restoring vital ecosystems, offering hope for a sustainable future. 🌿 #AmazonReforestation #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #LandisLife #UNited4Land https://lnkd.in/dMJzmmMX

For some, the start of summer spells long days spent by the lake, sipping sangria at an outdoor patio, lounging at a beach, or taking road trips through beautiful landscapes. But if you live in Brazil, Canada, the United States, Australia… the arrival of summer may mean something different – especially nowadays. For some, summer might bring to mind burning forests, smoky skies, and emergency evacuations. Indeed, as per the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change can have profound impacts on people, from both a health and societal perspective. 📰 Last week, the reality of increasingly extreme wildfires came to light: One study, published in Global Change Biology, highlighted the exact carbon impacts of the 2023 Canadian wildfire season (the worst in Canada, on record). The carbon emissions of these wildfires were about four times the annual CO2 emissions from annual plane travel, or about the same as that emitted annually by 647 million cars. Although a decrease in deforestation in Brazil appears to be taking place thanks to a variety of Amazon-friendly policies pushed forward by newly elected President Lula, according to the Brasilian Space Reseach Institute (INPE), this same piece of land just experienced its worst wildfire season in 20 years. Compared to the first six months of 2023, the first six months of 2024 saw a 60% increase in wildfires. Such findings can be demoralizing, in a world already so filled with bad news stories. But as underscored in The Guardian’s latest climate piece about temperatures rising to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels for 12 months in a row, “Adaptation is not an admission that our current efforts are useless.” 🌱 At 44moles, these stories motivate us to keep working – to find forests that need financial support and improved forest management (IFM) strategies, and to improve their biodiversity and overall health. A healthy, biodiverse forest can be a forest more resistant to external disturbances — such as drought. Although the causes of extreme wildfires are highly complex (in Brazil, the wildfires are largely being exacerbated by intentional land burning for agricultural purposes), we firmly believe that anything that can be done to improve the health of our forests worldwide is critical. ➡ To learn more about how sustainable forestry management in Europe, Africa, and the Americas can play an important part in climate adaptation, visit 44moles: https://bit.ly/4bikvj2

The existence of forests as one of the essential components in the ecosystem is increasingly threatened. Based on the FAO report, it is estimated that since 1990 there have been around 420 million hectares of forest lost due to land conversion. In addition, between 2015 and 2020, the global deforestation rate is estimated at 10 million hectares per year. With these conditions, the existence of forests will be increasingly threatened. Forest fires have a devastating effect on the environment: Homes, wildlife and plants are all destroyed by forest fires. It burns down the small shrubs and grasses, leading to landslides and soil erosion. Careless acts such as arson, unattended campfires, improperly discarded cigarettes, and reckless use of matches or fireworks stand as the foremost reasons behind wildfire ignitions. However, it is often the weather conditions that determine how much a wildfire grows. Climate change, including increased heat, extended drought, and a thirsty atmosphere, has been a key driver in increasing the risk and extent of wildfires in the western United States. Other factors that can increase the risk of fires include deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development. The western US in general is an area experiencing climate warming along with rainfall reductions, the combination of which leads to more intense fires. This trend is only expected to worsen in the future. Governments play a crucial role in forest conservation by establishing regulations, providing support, and promoting sustainable practices. Governments must balance investing in fire suppression with measures to prevent wildfires long-term (e.g., reducing fuel loads, restoring ecosystems to natural fire patterns, and educating the public). One strategy is implementing land use policies that limit the risk of fire, incentivizing better land management, and encouraging stronger coordination across sectors to reduce conflicting land practices. Governments are also uniquely positioned to support research initiatives to gather wildfire data and analyze patterns. The Los Angeles winter wildfires have shocked the world, with a death toll of 16 and over 12,000 structures destroyed. Experts point to unusual weather patterns, including wet winters in 2022 and 2023 that fueled vegetation growth, followed by a dry 2024 season that turned plants into tinder. Climate change activists highlight the growing intensity of such disasters, while political figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk blame the California governor's environmental and DEI policies. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are organizational frameworks which seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability. Communities and Governments of the World have to come together to prevent our planet's destruction.

Happy World Environment Day from high-content wolfdog Zeppelin! This day is celebrated globally on 5 June and is led by the UN Environment Programme. Today encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. This year’s World Environment Day campaign focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” Below are a few fun facts about the environments provided by the UN Environment Programme. Let us know in the comments below which ones you found the most interesting or surprising! - Forests cover 31 per cent of the Earth but they are not equally distributed as more than half of the world’s forests are found in only five countries: Brazil, Canada, China, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. - Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based species of animals, plants and insects. - Drylands - areas which face great water scarcity—cover 41% of the Earth’s land surface and 78% of the world’s rangelands. - Lakes, rivers and wetlands hold 20–30% of global carbon despite occupying only 5–8%of its land surface. - Almost 60% of all species live in soil, making land the planet’s most biodiverse habitat. - Only 0.5% of water on Earth is useable and available freshwater. Climate change is dangerously affecting that supply. - Over the past 2 decades, land-based water storage—including soil moisture, snow and ice— has dropped at a rate of 1 centimeter per year with severe ramifications for water security and food production. - Close to 75% of the world’s fruit and seed crops depend, at least in part, on pollinators like bees. Pollinators contribute to 35% of the world’s total crop production. - Despite their importance, pollinators are in serious decline, primarily due to intensive agricultural practices, pesticide use, invasive species, diseases and climate change. - Trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 5°C, reducing air conditioning needs by 25%. Urban trees provide multiple health benefits such as cleaner water. They also clean the air and reduce flooding among many other benefits.

‘As tropical forests are crucial to regulating climate’ and thus reducing environmental shocks and associated disasters, then the importance of forest protection and conservation becomes paramount if we are to avoid the worst aspects of climate change. https://lnkd.in/eSBJZyJV   The Tropical Forests Mechanism (TFM) provides a framework to attract and deploy conservation finance for most of the world’s tropical forests. The mechanism is expected to complement the Brazilian government’s Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), announced at COP28, to secure funding to protect rainforests in the Amazon region, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. ‘The TFM focuses on ‘hectares of forests’ rather than ‘tonnes of carbon’ as its primary metric, supporting the provision of environmental services such as carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, water retention, and benefits to forest stewards and inhabitants. Unlike traditional carbon markets, the approach avoids challenges related to additionality, leakage, and permanence, allowing for an effective conservation effort.’ https://lnkd.in/eJBEfzWh Alternatively, if we continue with a 'business as usual approach' characterized by piecemeal, half-hearted and insufficiently financed approaches to climate change, as the pace and intensity of environmental shocks associated with climate change increases, the costs incurred in loss of lives, property and livelihoods will continue to rise: ‘In the past five years, the actual annual insured losses from natural catastrophes averaged $106 billion, compared with less than $83 billion in the preceding five-year period. Verisk’s latest models estimate the global modeled insured average annual loss (AAL) from natural catastrophes at $151 billion, with non-crop losses making up more than three-quarters of this figure at $119 billion. This suggests the insurance industry should be prepared to experience total annual insured losses, from natural catastrophes and crop, well more than $151 billion on average.’ https://lnkd.in/e5iSsCb6 ‘2023 was the hottest year on record with disasters across Europe costing more than €77 billion.’ https://lnkd.in/eWRP-DwU https://lnkd.in/ewq9ycxF).