Biodiversity loss

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Publishes 2023 Sustainability Report

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE: ZWS) today published its 2023 Sustainability Report , which outlines how the pure-play water company continues to advance its sustainability initiatives.

Key Points: 
  • Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE: ZWS) today published its 2023 Sustainability Report , which outlines how the pure-play water company continues to advance its sustainability initiatives.
  • The Zurn Elkay 2023 Sustainability Report highlights progress against nearly two dozen existing timebound targets focused on improving supplier diversity, air emissions, waste reduction, plastic bottle elimination, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, employee engagement and much more.
  • “Sustainability is inherently linked to our business, and no discussion of sustainability is complete without addressing how we will protect, conserve and manage clean water,” said Todd A. Adams, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Chairman and CEO.
  • To learn more about Zurn Elkay’s 2023 ESG efforts and ongoing strategy, review the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions 2023 Sustainability Report , as well as the company’s Sustainability website .

407 ETR is celebrating its new sponsorship with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024

TRCA has been celebrating maple syrup for more than 50 years, and hosts between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors annually at its Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival.

Key Points: 
  • TRCA has been celebrating maple syrup for more than 50 years, and hosts between 40,000 and 50,000 visitors annually at its Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival.
  • The festival educates visitors about maple syrup production through time as they experience early Indigenous, early European settler and modern maple syrup production through interactive demonstrations.
  • "Highway 407 ETR is surrounded by vibrant communities and we're proud to help connect people to nature through events like the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival," says Javier Tamargo, President & CEO, 407 ETR.
  • "Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is proud to partner with 407 ETR and host the annual Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival which connects people to nature and provides many benefits to the communities we serve," says John MacKenzie, CEO, Toronto Region Conservation Authority.

Empowering key regional environmental groups to protect habitats and species at risk in Quebec and across Canada

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 4, 2024

This funding will support 56 conservation projects across Canada, led by communities, individuals, and non-government organizations taking action to recover species at risk in their communities.

Key Points: 
  • This funding will support 56 conservation projects across Canada, led by communities, individuals, and non-government organizations taking action to recover species at risk in their communities.
  • The Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk plays an important role in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act through the conservation of land-based species at risk.
  • That is why, across the country, individuals, organizations, and communities are doing their part to protect nature, biodiversity, species at risk, and their habitats.
  • The Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk contributes to Canada's biodiversity and conservation goals by protecting and restoring habitats of species at risk.

Minister Guilbeault calls for an ambitious plastics treaty at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Kenya

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 1, 2024

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, wrapped up Canada's participation in the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Points: 
  • The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, wrapped up Canada's participation in the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Minister Guilbeault held meetings with environment ministers in Africa, as well as civil society, business leaders, and youth on advancing progress on climate, biodiversity, and the elimination of plastic pollution.
  • I'm encouraged by the collaboration demonstrated at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, especially toward developing the global agreement on plastic pollution.
  • – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
    At the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Minister Guilbeault, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced the allocation of $107 million to Canada's Partnering for Nature initiative.

Government of Canada and Mushkegowuk Council successfully complete feasibility assessment and take a major step toward officially protecting western James Bay and southwestern Hudson Bay

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

"Today marks a major step forward for the Mushkegowuk Council, the Omushkego Cree people, and the Government of Canada.

Key Points: 
  • "Today marks a major step forward for the Mushkegowuk Council, the Omushkego Cree people, and the Government of Canada.
  • "The successful completion of the feasibility assessment for the proposed national marine conservation area in western James Bay and southwestern Hudson Bay is fantastic news.
  • "Completing this feasibility assessment toward the establishment of a new national marine conservation area in the western James Bay and southwestern Hudson Bay regions is an incredible achievement.
  • A steering committee was established to help guide the feasibility assessment for the proposed NMCA in western James Bay.

Catona Climate to Deliver Microsoft 350,000 Tonnes of Carbon Removal through Agroforestry Project

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Catona Climate, a global climate finance company, today announced that Microsoft has signed a six-year offtake agreement to purchase 350,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits from an agroforestry project in Kenya. Funded, designed and managed by Catona in collaboration with long-standing nonprofit partner, Trees for the Future, this project supports Microsoft's goal to become carbon negative by 2030.

Key Points: 
  • Agreement demonstrates shared commitment to high-integrity projects that, beyond sequestering carbon, support biodiversity and benefit local communities long term
    LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Catona Climate, a global climate finance company, today announced that Microsoft has signed a six-year offtake agreement to purchase 350,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits from an agroforestry project in Kenya.
  • Funded, designed and managed by Catona in collaboration with long-standing nonprofit partner, Trees for the Future, this project supports Microsoft's goal to become carbon negative by 2030.
  • "This collaboration demonstrates what's possible when like-minded stakeholders come together to align on project quality and impact," added Rob Lee, Catona Climate's Chief Carbon Officer.
  • Brian Marrs, Senior Director for Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft said, "With organizations like Catona, we're able to add agroforestry projects to our portfolio that not only remove carbon but also meaningfully support biodiversity and benefit local communities in the short and long term."

Lester Asset Management Announces the Launch of Canada's First Biodiversity Fund

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

MONTREAL, Feb. 20, 2024 /CNW/ - Lester Asset Management (LAM) is pleased to announce that it has launched Canada's first biodiversity fund: the Lynx Global Biodiversity Fund (the "Fund").

Key Points: 
  • MONTREAL, Feb. 20, 2024 /CNW/ - Lester Asset Management (LAM) is pleased to announce that it has launched Canada's first biodiversity fund: the Lynx Global Biodiversity Fund (the "Fund").
  • Expanding our competencies to a wider universe of companies benefitting from powerful environmental tailwinds will offer additional growth potential and diversification to investment portfolios."
  • "We also have an experienced Advisory Board who have front row seats to nature-related risks facing corporations and how halting and reversing biodiversity loss will be tackled.
  • Growing investment capital by preserving natural capital promises to be very rewarding for investors."

7 crucial issues casting a shadow over Prabowo-Gibran’s likely Indonesian election victory

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024

After four election attempts and three presidential races, the 72-year-old Defence Minister is set to succeed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has been in power for a decade.

Key Points: 
  • After four election attempts and three presidential races, the 72-year-old Defence Minister is set to succeed President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has been in power for a decade.
  • We summarised the views of nine academics on seven crucial issues that have become public discussions following recent presidential and vice-presidential debates.

1. Human rights and freedoms on the line

  • Prabowo had admitted his involvment in the kidnapping of pro-democracy activists in May 1998 riots, but said he released them.
  • Eka said it was concerning that Prabowo did not include any commitment to resolve past human rights violations in his election platform.
  • “Hoping for Prabowo to resolve the past human rights cases seems impossible.
  • It is difficult to expect Prabowo to be able to fully protect human rights, including civil, political, economic and socio-cultural rights of the entire community,” Eka said.

2. The New Capital’s funding challenge

  • Prabowo-Gibran’s victory means the development of the New Capital city in East Kalimantan, one of Jokowi’s signature projects, will continue as planned.
  • With many of Prabowo-Gibran’s campaign programs requiring substantial funding, including the free lunch and internet programs, money will be tight.
  • “There is still a burden from the debt inherited by the Jokowi administration, and the interest is also very high.
  • This does not include the risk of biodiversity loss due to the reduction in cover.

3. Food estate’s risk of failure

  • However, amid a changing climate and the risk of extreme weather, the food estate project is at high risk of failure.
  • Prabowo must reconsider the food estate project, Angga said, because Indonesia had already experienced two losses by forcing itself to boost mass agriculture: the Suharto-era million-hectare rice field project in Central Kalimantan and the food estate project in Merauke in Papua.

4. Strategies for nickel and other industries

  • Additionally, given its status as one of the world’s biggest nickel producers, Indonesia’s export ban on raw nickel and the flood of semi-finished nickel products in the international market has seen global nickel prices plummet.
  • Krisna said the downstream aspirations echoed by Prabowo-Gibran were not only about nickel, but also crude palm oil, coal and digital downstreaming.
  • “Some of these industries are varied, and many require a wide scale that may not be sufficient if they only rely on the domestic market.

5. Improving teacher and lecturer welfare

  • One study found increased welfare could encourage educators to improve the quality of the teaching and learning process.
  • Another study in 2019 showed the fulfilment of adequate welfare for teachers would increase teachers’ enthusiasm when working.
  • Hariyadi concluded that although necessary, improving welfare was not the only component needed to enhance the quality of public services, especially in the education sector.

6. Protecting independent research and academic freedom

  • In the presidential debates, Prabowo and his two competitors did not explain their understanding of academic freedom.
  • The discussion about the political environment, academic autonomy and the legal environment determining academic freedom was nowhere to be found.
  • Masduki said Prabowo should acknowledge academic autonomy from the very beginning: from planning research topics and building the research environment to receiving funding not flavoured with political messages.

7. Progress on helping children grow

  • The prevalence of stunting cannot go down quickly in only one leadership period, as it is caused by many factors.
  • “The Health Ministry has a program for the first 1000 days of a child’s life, starting during pregnancy.
  • “The target (of the program) is unclear, whether (it is) to overcome stunting, malnutrition or other nutrition.
  • Ultimately, budget allocations may hinder the efforts to reduce stunting, as Jokowi government has eliminated the mandatory spending for health.

Migratory animals face mass extinction – but as a conservationist I’m optimistic

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Recognised threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and overexploitation but new analyses suggest that migratory species are faring particularly badly.

Key Points: 
  • Recognised threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and overexploitation but new analyses suggest that migratory species are faring particularly badly.
  • The global extinction risk is increasing for all migratory species.
  • I’m writing this in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species.

Status update

  • Worse still, they suggest that the extinction risk is increasing for all migratory species, including those not included under the convention.
  • Populations of fish included under the convention have declined on average by 90% since 1970.
  • Many species under the convention that need or would significantly benefit from international cooperation, are identified as high priorities for further conservation action based on their conservation status and biological vulnerability.
  • Understanding the scope and severity of these threats where they occur is therefore essential to informing conservation action, especially in the context of the triple planetary crises.

Effective action

  • There are various reasons why such agreements are not always as effective as they could be.
  • This has proven key to catalysing concerted conservation action for the saiga.
  • In the last 15 years, new knowledge of the saiga antelope’s ecology, migration and trade has been generated and effective anti-poaching measures have been implemented.
  • These include evaluating management approaches, sustainable use of the species, stockpile management, building the saiga conservation network and identifying key research needs along international supply chains.

Catalysing cross-border conservation

  • This landmark meeting has been positive and I’ve noticed a renewed sense of commitment to improve the conservation of migratory species.
  • Conservation measures should be context-specific, applied at relevant scales, and socially legitimate among local communities and Indigenous peoples if they are to be successful.
  • Renewed commitment to conservation solutions identified in this report could build political will to act together.


Dan Challender receives funding from the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRI GCRF) through the Trade, Development, and the Environment Hub and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and has previously received funding from the National Geographic Society. He is CITES Focal Point for the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group and is a member of the IUCN CEESP/SSC Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group.

Government of Canada invests $3 million in citizen science and open data for birds and biodiversity

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced an investment of $3 million to Birds Canada over five years.

Key Points: 
  • Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced an investment of $3 million to Birds Canada over five years.
  • The funding will support citizen science programs and open data, providing access to hundreds of millions of data records gathered by volunteers and professional biologists on the distribution, abundance, and population trends for birds in Canada.
  • These citizen science programs, and the dedicated people who contribute to them, form the backbone of bird conservation in Canada.
  • Birds Canada is a national non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the protection of wild birds and their habitats.