“Climate is Nature. Nature is climate.” So began an article previewing this week’s COP16 biodiversity conference published by Sumaúma, an extraordinary newsroom (and Covering Climate Now partner) in the Brazilian Amazon.
Sumaúma explained that Colombia, the host of COP16, is proposing a radical but common-sense departure from previous negotiations: “Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad has declared that one of the priorities of the conference will be a unified pledge on climate and biodiversity.” Climate and biodiversity are “two sides of the same coin,” the article added, noting that the minister called the current practice of treating them separately “dangerous.”
The global media has a history of treating the biodiversity crisis as separate from and less important than the climate crisis. One study analyzing newspapers in the US, Canada, and UK found that climate change received eight times more coverage than biodiversity did between 1991 and 2018, and there’s no reason to think the trend has changed since then. The COP16 negotiations, which take place in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 through November 1, offer journalists a chance to correct this imbalance.
The lede of the Sumaúma article hints at a key point to bear in mind: Global warming drives species loss, and species loss drives global warming. There is, however, a good news corollary: Reducing global warming limits species loss, and reducing species loss limits global warming.
Scientific research has now confirmed what Indigenous peoples have long understood, Sumaúma noted: “Nature, particularly microorganisms such as bacteria, does much of the work of maintaining the world’s temperature, salinity, acidity and chemical balance.” Two human activities are primarily responsible for pushing plant and animal species to extinction: burning fossil fuels, which boosts global temperatures; and destroying habitats by cutting down forests to increase farmland. These, and kindred activities, have slashed global wildlife populations by an average of 73% over the last 50 years. “It’s shameful that our single species is driving the extinction of thousands of others,” Tom Oliver, a professor of applied ecology at the University of Reading, told the Guardian.
Officially, COP16 is tasked with assessing how much progress the world’s governments have made since COP15, when they adopted a landmark plan to reach so-called “30 by 30 goals” — conserving 30% of Earth’s land and water area and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. Turning these commitments into credible national policies that actually get implemented is one test of success. As with climate negotiations, much will hinge on whether rich countries provide poor ones the financial aid needed to halt deforestation and other damaging practices.
Journalists can also grade COP16’s achievements by assessing how Indigenous peoples are treated there. The world’s 370 million Indigenous people occupy roughly 20% of Earth’s territory; yet that 20% contains 80% of all known terrestrial plant and animal species. That outstanding record of stewardship reinforces Indigenous people’s long-standing calls for governments to respect their knowledge and agency in deliberations such as COP16 — and at the COP29 climate talks starting on November 11 as well.
From Us
CCNow Basics. Join our first CCNow Basics training webinar, “The Three Pillars,” on October 31, at 1pm UTC (9am US Eastern Time). In this one-hour training session, brush up on climate reporting basics and go the extra step and invite colleagues to join you.
Checking their climate records. Watch recordings of two CCNow webinars digging into the climate records of US presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.
Elections reporting help. For help reporting on the US elections in the final weeks before November 5, check out CCNow’s guide, “Reporting on Climate and the 2024 US Elections.”
Noteworthy Stories
Anti-climate roadmap. With the fossil fuel industry crossing its fingers for a Trump win in November, one outfit, the American Exploration and Production Council, or AXPC, has crafted a detailed plan for reversing climate and environmental policies enacted under the Biden administration. This comes as many oil and gas companies fall short of their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By Evan Halper and Josh Dawsey at The Washington Post…
‘From hurricanes to homelessness.’ In the wakes of hurricanes Milton and Helene, thousands across the US southeast remain displaced or living amidst the wreckage. With employment interrupted for many of the storms’ victims, the threat of eviction or foreclosure also looms, especially for Black communities. “To expect rent when people have no water, no jobs, and are struggling to survive is deplorable,” one tenants rights advocate said. By Adam Mahoney for Capital B News…
‘Inequality killed in Acapulco.’ Detailed analysis in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, which rocked Mexico’s Pacific coast last October, finds that the vast majority of fatalities occurred in poorer areas, where 46% of homes were destroyed, compared to only 18% in wealthier neighborhoods. A video special, six months in the making, explores what Otis meant for the residents of Acapulco and how the storm exposed the city’s inequities. From Mexico’s N+ Focus…
The big, green short. Stock markets are soaring, but clean energy and green technology stocks continue to lag, even despite major stimulus packages countries have adopted to spur the clean energy transition. New analysis finds a majority of hedge funds are betting against key sectors of the green economy and counting on the durability of fossil fuels — a fact which might pose a greater risk to green energy than hostile politicians. By Sheryl Lee, Ishika Mookerjee, and Christopher Udemans for Bloomberg…
Fossil-fueled Baku. Azerbaijan, host to the UN’s fast-approaching COP29 climate summit, is poised to preside over a huge expansion of fossil gas production in the coming decade, according to a new report by a German NGO. The report’s authors say countries “with a vested interest in keeping the world hooked on fossil fuels” should never oversee world efforts to rein in climate change; recent analysis by Climate Action Tracker rated Azerbaijan’s climate plan “critically insufficient.” By Damian Carrington for the Guardian…
Should China pay? A top issue at COP29, dubbed “the finance COP,” will be the money that developed countries owe their developing peers to support the latter’s energy transition and climate resilience efforts. At present, China, the world’s current largest greenhouse gas emitter, is a beneficiary of that money pot because median income in China falls below the UN standard for countries to qualify as “developed.” But wealthy countries argue it’s time for China to join their ranks, and, as the EU’s climate commissioner put it, how can China afford to go to the moon if it can’t put money towards climate action? By Dan Murtaugh, John Ainger, and Alfred Cang for Bloomberg…
Events & Resources
Clean Energy Wire is hosting a webinar, “COP of finance,” to prepare journalists to cover COP29, especially the central role money will play in the summit, on Tuesday, October 29, at 16:00 Central European Time (12pm US Eastern Time). Journalists who will cover COP29 from afar are particularly encouraged to attend.
World Resources Institute is hosting a webinar, “The Role of Faith Actors in Tackling Food Loss and Waste: A Global Dialogue,” on Tuesday, October 29, at 15:00 Central Africa Time (9am US Eastern Time).
World Resources Institute is hosting a webinar, “The role of political leadership in sub-national energy planning and investments,” on Thursday, October 31, at 15:00 East Africa Time (8am US Eastern Time).
From The Lancet, a new study examines the perspectives of young people across the US towards climate change, including climate anxiety. Political affiliation and exposure to climate disasters join more conventional data, like race, gender, and location, in differentiating young people’s responses.
Sad but true: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has an explainer debunking various conspiracy theories that have thrived amidst the federal government’s response to hurricanes Milton and Helene. “No one creates or steers hurricanes; the technology does not exist,” the explainer begins.
Congratulations to the winners of the European Journalism Centre’s Climate Journalism Awards, announced last week in Copenhagen! The five winning entries serve up an inspiring example for journalists everywhere on the climate beat. (Special shout out to Giorgio Michalopoulos & Stefano Valentino, whose work for Voxeurop on big finance greenwashing also won a CCNow award earlier this year!)
Jobs, Etc.
KVAL-TV is seeking a Weekend Meteorologist (Eugene, Ore.). Suncoast Searchlight is hiring a Senior Investigative Reporter/Deputy Editor, Investigative Data Reporter, and a Watchdog/Investigative Reporter (Sarasota, Fla.). Alaska Public Media is recruiting an Anchorage Communities Reporter and Alaska Desk reporters for Fairbanks; Haines or Skagway; Unalaska, Sand Point or St. Paul; and Anchorage.
Grant. The Earth Journalism Network is offering climate and environment reporting grants to newsrooms which serve Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color in the US and Canada. Learn more and apply.