Nigel Hughes

Good short summary here from UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) on #carbonsequestration in soils. https://lnkd.in/eQBUDjVE Distinguishing between carbon stores and carbon sequestration is important. This report makes it clear that soils are important carbon stores, but the potential for more long term sequestration is quite limited – with more opportunity with arable than with grassland.  (When interpreting the table on page 4 note that the figures given under woodland and hedges are only for carbon sequestration into the soil . Most of carbon sequestration in growing woodland into is into the tree biomass – need to add something like another 4 tCO2 ha-1 yr-1) for young broadleaved woodland, assuming that this carbon stays in long term store (i.e. is not harvested and used in short lifetime products).   The report points out that these sequestration rates need to be considered alongside the average emissions from farmland. For Wales it says this is a relatively high 3.75 tCO2 ha-1 yr-1 because of the preponderance of livestock. 

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Community benefit programs & nature initiatives are pretty popular at the moment as part of infrastructure development projects, including in the renewable energy space. This report has just been released by the The Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC) looking at "Community participation for community benefits from natural capital projects" and co-authored by Rebecca Gowens (who was one of the presenters at the IAIA conference session I chaired re community benefits funds in Dublin a few weeks ago in April). It's interesting reading for anyone involved in #communitybenefits, #nature and #communityengagement space. There hasn't been a lot published around the effectiveness of community benefit programs, so this research is especially valuable in helping provide some much-needed evidence and practice insights. Reflecting that the realisation of community benefits are not guaranteed, a number of lessons are offered in the report. One of the aspects of the report I think is especially useful are ten guiding principles for effective community participation in natural capital projects. These include that community participation should be: 1. Bespoke 2. Legitimate and democratic 3. Inclusive 4. Coordinated 5. Resourced 6. Lasting 7. Proportionate 8. Targeted, timely and longitudinal 9. Transparent 10. Accountable and reflexive #socialimpact

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National Audit Office casts doubt on the efficacy of Biodiversity Net Gain: https://lnkd.in/eWjR3m6j In November 2021 Defra publicly committed to launch statutory BNG within two years. It worked quickly, developing a novel policy through an existing and complex planning system, and statutory BNG was launched in February 2024. However, in prioritising launching the policy it accepted some significant risks to effectiveness which it must now manage as the policy moves from implementation to business as usual. Defra launched its policy before having all the elements in place that it needs to ensure statutory BNG is a success in the long term. Although it considered that the arrangements it had in place at launch were sufficient, it has a long way to go before it can be confident that damage to biodiversity through development will not be understated and that the benefits of biodiversity enhancements will actually be delivered. For its market-led approach to work, Defra needs the market to scale up to meet demand, and for statutory biodiversity credits to deliver biodiversity when the market fails to do so. Local authorities manage many aspects of statutory BNG through the planning process, including ensuring compliance and enforcement. For now, there is doubt about whether local authorities will be able to discharge these duties effectively. In addition, it is not clear whether Defra will have sufficiently granular monitoring data to assess policy performance. Without these, Defra will not have assurance that its statutory BNG policy is delivering biodiversity outcomes and value for money for taxpayers. #BNG #Biodiversity #Planning #BiodiversityNetGain

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Ahead of CBD COP16 we released a report looking at how businesses could contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework (link below) https://lnkd.in/e7dxewHN . This report sets out the following: ✅ Why is the role of businesses important (READ: CRITICAL) for the development and implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs)? ✅ Why is it good for businesses to engage with the GBF and NBSAPs? ✅ What existing guidance is already available for businesses and policy makers on how best to do this? ✅ A mapping exercise which sets out how different sectors across ALL businesses can contribute to each of the 23 targets (both in terms of specific activities they can do, as well as the types of investment activities they can make). During CBD COP16, negotiators discussed two specific decisions relating to this issue: 1. The Global Biodiversity Monitoring Framework 2. The mechanisms for PMRR (Planning, monitoring, reporting and review) Unfortunately due to the meeting being suspended, neither decision has yet been adopted.... but here are some key points within the draft decisions on this topic: 1. Technical updates to the headline and binary indicators which countries will need to use in their national reports and which include specific references to businesses (e.g. Has your country put in place measures to ensure that large and transnational companies and financial institutions progressively reduce their negative impacts on biodiversity and increase their positive impacts?) 2. That the global review of collective progress of the GBF will include information on actors other than national governments and requests the CBD Secretariat to continue to develop a mechanism for tracking commitments of actors other than national Governments. 3. A request for the CBD secretariat to facilitate an informal dialogue among Parties and all relevant actors (including a specific mention to the private and financial sectors) on the global review - to include sharing of best practices, challenges, gaps and solutions. 4. Development of a specific annex (Annex II) titled "Communication of commitments by actors other than national governments" which sets out (a) General principles for including commitments from actors other than national governments in the enhanced multidimensional approach to planning, monitoring, reporting and review (b) Core reporting elements for commitments by actors other than national governments. More work is needed in this space (and for those wondering....this is also an issue for the NDCs and Paris Agreement too....). Interested in hearing from those who are doing more thinking on these issues...

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Nature England natural capital latest report: The report provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of our ecosystem assets, such as wetlands and forests, and the important role they play in sustaining us and the risks to society and the economy if the status quo is maintained. The report makes clear the significant place nature has on the balance sheet with changes being felt in the economy now due to nature depletion, and the consequences already being seen in the reduction in access to nature. For example, pollination represents around £500 million of benefits in the agricultural industry with a decline in insect life threatening food supply. Elsewhere, the degradation of soils globally is causing carbon emissions to rise - equivalent to 36% of the annual global carbon emissions from fossil fuels - while more frequent extreme weather events are causing significant economic damage. The report comes alongside a new risk register, which investigates the threats nature faces, and how they could impact on a range of policy areas, such as the push for net zero, climate adaptation, food security, water security and health, and setting out the actions that need to be taken to address these risks to nature and the benefits it provides.

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'The Ecological Organisations Framework and the underlying story of ecological organisations didn’t appear out of nowhere. There was no rubbing of a magic lamp or download from the universe. Instead, this work sprung out of the rich and diverse mulch of the work and ideas of others, and a multitude of teachers and elders. As part of her work into how we might move towards a thrivable world, my friend and often-inspirator Michelle Holliday has started a beautiful open-source mapping of ‘the tributaries (and (dis)tributories) of thrivability’, with tributaries here meaning the ‘countless lineages (that) form a comprehensive, expansive body of thought and a lifelong flow of deepening practice.’ Inspired and moved by the rightness of honouring and naming the work that comes before us, I have spent some lovely hours mapping the tributaries, i.e. the lineage, of the story of ecological organisations and the EO framework to honour the mulch from which this work sprung. This will be an imperfect mapping because: ➳ It will certainly miss important work. When I trace the knowable start of this work, it’s been an 8 year (or so) lead up, and I haven’t intentionally mapped the books or articles I’ve read, workshops or events I’ve attended, or podcasts or teachers I’ve listened to in that time. ➳ It will limit the mapping to the ideas, teachers, practices, perspectives, and work that I can directly trace into the framework and the underlying story. I’m not going to attempt to map the lineages that lie behind these...' Read the full article here. I share more about what I discovered by going through this process: https://lnkd.in/eevRZ4QH (If you're not a paid subscriber, there's an option to access all paid subscriber articles for free for 7 days).

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Thank you, University of Cambridge and Lucy Cavendish College that provided valuable course "Key Essentials : The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development and the Law". This online short course is broken down into the following six modules:   Module 1: Course Introduction and Orientation Module 2: Nature Conservation, Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Protection Module 3: Sustainable Use and Management of Biodiversity, Trade of Wildlife Species and Ecosystem Valuation Module 4: Benefit-Sharing and Protection of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge Module 5: Biodiversity Finance, Capacity-Building, Scientific Cooperation and Tech Transfer Module 6: Course Conclusion and Final Remarks I would like to share that the course content has been incredibly insightful and well-structured. The balance between theory and practical application has made it easier to grasp complex biodiversity concepts and understand how they can be implemented effectively. I particularly appreciate the focus on global biodiversity frameworks and how they can be localized to address unique challenges in different regions. One suggestion for improvement would be to incorporate more case studies from a wider range of countries, especially from regions facing severe biodiversity threats. It would also be helpful to provide additional interactive tools or simulations to practice real-world scenarios, such as biodiversity management in urban areas or ecosystem restoration projects. Overall, the course has been an excellent learning experience, and I look forward to applying the skills I’ve gained to real-world biodiversity challenges. Thank you! Maeve E. McDermott Prof Dr Marie Claire Cordonier-Segger Markus Gehring Gwynne Foster Tejas Rao #cambridgeuniversity #shortcourse #biodiversity #sustainability #energy

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Is net zero and clean energy policy really a burden? Some politicians and ‘think tanks’ are casting action to shift to clean energy and to curb climate change in a negative light. This has come to the fore in the UK election campaign, but has built for a while. Like most social change, the energy transition is not like flicking a switch, and it’s not cost free, but casting it only as a cost burden when it is, and will be, a route to lower bills and to avoid rising costs linked to climate change-related disruption from more frequent and harsher storms, floods, excess heat, loss of soils, effects on infrastructure etc, is NOT being straight with the public. Yet, in 2023, Rishi Sunak cast energy and climate in a negative light, as “a burden” and that he wanted to be “honest with the public”, with “honesty, not obfuscation”, as well as “tough choices and sacrifices”. How “honest” is it to cast net zero so negatively when the evidence is that current policies are costing the UK and that these costs will rise unless things change rapidly? Mr Sunak’s then Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, also cast said climate action and progress to net zero are “a luxury belief” adding that “We’re not going to save the planet by bankrupting the British people”. It is not clear how helping people in fuel poverty to avoid high bills and to keep warm in winter is a “luxury”. Ditto how a plan to avoid costs that come from letting climate-related heat, floods, storms etc to worsen. Labour cut its Green Prosperity Plan from c£28 to c5bn but that does not mean the UK will save money as costs of inaction will grow and will show up on the nation’s accounts. Now, Reform leader, Nigel Farage says he will scrap net zero entirely. Mr Farage says net zero means higher energy bills and scrapping them will save £30 billion a year over 25 years. Yet the UK’s low / zero energy policies have cost less than £9bn a year from 2021-23 (less than 0.5 per cent of UK GDP) according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Politicians who claim action to curb climate change will cost a lot rarely (never) say current energy policies and inaction on climate change are already costing us, and that the cost will rise. One study (see below) identifies the huge and growing cost to the UK of CURRENT inadequate energy and climate policies: - The cost of current policies: £24bn a year (1.1% of GDP) - In 2050: that will rise to 3.3% - In 2100: that will be £73bn a year (7.4% of GDP) The study says: “Many of the climate change impacts that the UK faces have the potential to create serious socioeconomic consequences” Reference: What will climate change cost the UK? May 2022, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Leeds, University of Leeds, University of Delaware

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#BNG hivemind. Here's an interesting conundrum? I'm advising a local authority on potential opportunities to enhance land to be able to sell #biodiversityunits. Putting aside the many governance and management issues local authorities have in establishing a #habitatbank on public land there appears to be a disincentive to enhance certain habitat types. Many typical urban #parks have areas which are essentially semi-mature #trees over amenity grassland. Where the trees are sufficiently closely spaced, these areas could be enhanced by underplanting with native shrubs and wildflowers to create something akin to a semi-natural natural secondary #woodland. The baseline habitat is 'Individual Trees' and 'Modified Grassland' and the proposed habitat would be 'Other woodland; broadleaved' - all moderate condition. However, because of the way the #TreeHelper in the #BiodiversityMetric calculates the area of individual trees, the biodiversity value of the baseline habitat is twice has high as the proposed habitat! So no incentive to enhance it. Am I doing something wrong? Is there another way to do the calculation so as not to get a perverse outcome? #BiodiversityNetGain #Ecology

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Whichever party wins the upcoming Election, the transition to net-zero is going to have to factor in their plans. But, in the short-term it will be costly and require co-ordination. This briefing, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and written by Patricia Sanchez Juanino analyses the current policy framework and looks at the options available to effectively handle the green transition. #ClimateChange #GeneralElection2024

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From the post: Can we please stop the charade that biodiversity credit markets aim at accelerating finance for conservation? If this was the goal, environ regulation would accelerate financing much more and much faster. Completely agree!

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GSFN FAO United Nations #sofi2024 David Laborde We know what we need to do, but we need #politicalwill and #financingmechanisms talking about different things and not having a #harmonisedapproach is the biggest challenge #Carbon base must be created to coordinate and move forward. #data is needed - it is a means of targeting #communitiescarboncalculators we are too late poverty has decreased globally, but inequality has increased having an extended #definition will help drive the role of key drivers in rising #hunger #countries needing the most financing have the least ability to access finance GSFN #communitiescarboncalcultors https://lnkd.in/eRWpkfaz

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Excellent, concise report exploring opportunities to align #biodiversity and #climate outcomes in #agriculture and #food systems. Whether you’re new to these complex issues or not, put it on the top of your reading list for the week/end📚🤓 “To effectively address climate change and biodiversity loss, leaders must capitalize on food systems as an entry point for action.” Climate Focus🙏 Farmers for Climate Action ⬇️

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 https://lnkd.in/ea-jJn-4 If you've been to any of VALID's tree risk training workshops. Or seen our presentations. You'll know some of the research foundations on which we build our decision making guidance. Like… 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 - Daniel Kahneman 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - Philip Tetlock & Dan Gardner 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - Roger Dooley 𝗡𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 - Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, Cass R. Sunstein We also cite 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿. In particular, his pioneering work with the 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 the at Cambridge University. https://lnkd.in/euk3vmMi Just listening to the Introduction on Audible. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 is going to be on the list. Very excited to find out how it's going to help VALID develop. #trees #urbanforestry #risk #riskmanagement #riskassessment

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Looking forward to speaking at the Ipieca Environment Group autumn meeting later on this afternoon. Been asked to cover: 1. How the perception/consideration of water stewardship is evolving in the context of regulatory frameworks 2. The similarities and differences between the AWS framework and the CSRD ESRS E3 requirements 3. An update on the AWS standard 3.0 revision 4. Anything else you think could be interesting to members/the industry Bit up in the air with 4. Current thinking around, "Scott, what is your favourite song by The Velvet Underground?" That said, we would need additional minutes. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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🌍 The critical role of conservation finance in securing our planet’s future 🌿 The world is grappling with an unprecedented biodiversity and climate crisis, but there are sufficient funds available—the challenge lies in mobilising and deploying them effectively. This is where conservation finance comes in, offering innovative solutions that go beyond just raising money. Conservation finance employs mechanisms and strategies that generate, manage, and deploy financial resources to achieve long-term sustainability outcomes. Whether through return-based investments, economic instruments like taxes and fees, or leveraging grants and philanthropy, conservation finance helps shift the focus from short-term projects to self-sustaining, systemic solutions. Key approaches include: - Aligning incentives: Creating positive incentives to drive behaviours that benefit nature, while disincentivising harmful actions through penalties, taxes, or tradable permits. - Increasing capital flows: Engaging private investors in nature-focused opportunities, from impact investing and green bonds to conservation trust funds. - Realigning expenditures: Redirecting existing financial flows to reduce harmful subsidies and increase funding for biodiversity. For businesses, investors, and governments: investing in nature is investing in our collective future. It’s about more than conservation—it’s about integrating environmental sustainability into the heart of our economic systems to ensure equitable access to these funds for communities globally. Let’s rethink the narrative from conservation being a cost to seeing it as a transformational opportunity. https://lnkd.in/e6Up3fJz #ConservationFinance #SustainableDevelopment #ImpactInvestment #BiodiversityConservation #GreenFinance #ClimateAction #WildTeam

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Why were the floods in Spain so bad? A visual guide bit.ly/48wq8dy Climate Action EU Environment and Climate Climate Policy Initiative Climate Adaptation Platform Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) More at https://bit.ly/3NM4DvW #climate #adaptation #climatecrisis

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I may not have written it in quite the same way but Tom Brookes reflections on 15 years in the climate community provide a very useful perspective on where our sector needs to go. Do read the whole article, here's his summary: "It seems to me that we have to take a new approach to the next, last few years of the fight for a stabilised climate. We need to think bigger, focus on power and building it, bring people along and not be afraid to bet on multiple approaches. If we build a community or ecosystem of capable people who trust each other and can move fast and not have to worry about whether others have their back, we have a chance of winning. We need to embrace the fact that radical is the new normal, we need to look ahead and plan for the next fight, not the last war. And we need to take care of people and realise that the psychological effects of this period and its implications are profound, for all of us. We know that if we lose our best strategic talent to constantly having to sell and resell themselves just to keep the lights on, we won’t have a shot at winning" https://lnkd.in/ezY2Md52 https://lnkd.in/ezY2Md52

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