Zeynep Burcu Yenipinar’s Post

On the power of nature-based solutions: Natural forest regeneration is projected to reduce local temperatures Forest regeneration is a crucial strategy for mitigating and adapting to global warming. Yet its precise impact on local climate remains uncertain, a factor that complicates decision-making when it comes to prioritizing investments. Here, we developed global maps illustrating how natural forest regeneration influences key local climate drivers—land surface temperature (LST), albedo, and evapotranspiration—using models fitted at a 1-km spatial resolution with a random forest classifier. We found that natural forest regeneration can alter annual mean LST by 0.01 °C, −0.59 °C, −0.50 °C, and −2.03 °C in Boreal, Mediterranean, Temperate, and Tropical regions, respectively. These variations underscore the region-specific effects of forest regeneration. Importantly, natural forest regeneration reduces LST across 64% of 1 billion hectares and 75% of 148 million hectares of potentially restorable land under different scenarios. These findings improve understanding of how forest regeneration can help regulate local climate, supporting climate adaptation efforts. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales CSIC University of Évora Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

The boreal, home to 67% of Canada’s wetlands and a quarter of the world’s wetlands, is a crucial ecosystem supporting biodiversity, carbon storage, and healthy watersheds. Yet, climate change poses uncertain risks to these wetland ecosystems, with cascading effects on wildlife, forests, water quality, and the industries and communities that rely on them. In collaboration with Western University, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and Athabasca University, Ducks Unlimited Canada is developing an advanced model to forecast how climate change might alter wetland distribution across the Western Boreal Forest. This simulation will use fine-scale climate projections to close knowledge gaps, providing actionable insights on the future of boreal wetlands under climate change pressures. We are seeking input to guide this study’s direction to ensure it addresses critical information gaps, meets the needs of diverse stakeholders, and maximizes its value for industry adaptation and mitigation efforts. Through your comments, we can refine our approach and tailor our outputs to support sustainable industry practices and regional climate resilience. Please see the comment section for the survey link. https://lnkd.in/gF-RTHQd

A close friend asked me last night what was my biggest takeaway from #ClimateWeek this year. Among all the tactics, all the strategic conversations, all the technical discussions, one realization dawned on me immediately. This week should not be called New York Climate Week. This week should not even be called New York Climate & Nature Week. 🌍 This week should be called #NewYorkEarthWeek. We are not just fixing the climate, we are not just stewarding nature, we are saving our only home. For the first time that I can remember, the majority of conversations that I was a part of this week recognized the interdependencies between climate and nature, between biodiversity and carbon drawdown, climate and water, funga and nutrient flows, between human and non-human life. The new #PlanetaryGuardians Planetary Health Check 2024 by Johan Rockstrom supported by Richard Branson not only shows us the #SafeOperatingSpace for nine planetary boundaries but has begun to show the interdependencies between those boundaries. We are in a critical moment of directing resources in the most effective ways to deliver the best outcome for life on this planet, both human and non-human. We must embrace the complexity of earth systems and take a step forward from what has been an overwhelming focus on climate to embracing the #WholeEarthChallenge. I posted earlier this week that more 85% of corporates have a climate target, only 25% have the same for water, 15% for forests and 13% for biodiversity. Anecdotally, I was talking with a major corporate yesterday who just finished their Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) analysis and they found that their Nature Risk exposure far exceeded their Climate Risk exposure from their TCFD analysis. It's time to shift the narrative, it's time to look at the full system and that starts with the simple act of changing the name of what has become one of the the most important week of the year for changing the future trajectory of our planet and our species. Tim Christophersen Sweta Chakraborty, PhD Elena Doms David Carlin Elizabeth Wathuti , O.G.W Florent Kaiser Hans Lak Jay Lipman Katharine Hayhoe Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Christiana Figueres Andrew Steer Tijn Tjoelker Jessica Smith Tom Rivett-Carnac Michael Mann Mike Bloomberg Paul Polman Leah Thomas Tony Goldner Lucy Almond Johannes van de Ven María Mendiluce Eva Zabey Claire Lund Melanie Nakagawa Diego Saez Gil Alexia Kelly Jennifer Morris Sophia Kianni Marc Benioff M Sanjayan Rhett Ayers Butler Oliver Dauert Oliver Bolton Daniel Firger Prof. Dr. Martin R. Stuchtey Felipe Villela

"As you read this, many regions of the world are implementing crisis plans against drought while, simultaneously, torrential rains wreak havoc in other corners of the planet, submerging cities and crops under the forces of wild waters. Would we all agree that we should be doing our best to improve our understanding of climate change impacts and design policies to address them? If so, involving Indigenous Peoples and local communities is crucial, and if done properly, the results will be valuable for society at large. This is a key finding of a large, locally relevant, and globally coordinated study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) that includes 48 Indigenous Peoples and local communities across all climate zones on all inhabited continents." #climatechange #indigenouspeople #knowledge

🌲 Can Trees Move? How can Assisted Tree Migration help forests under Climate Change? 👀 This recent article in #Nature #ClimateChange titled "Assisted tree migration can preserve the European forest carbon sink under climate change" sheds light on a promising strategy to help our forests thrive amidst changing climates. Congratulations to Debojyoti Chakraborty Bundesforschungszentrum für Wald (BFW) and all the authors on this remarkable achievement! Their work brings hope to the innovative efforts needed to safeguard our #forests. #ForestConservation #ClimateChange #AssistedMigration #CarbonSink #Sustainability #NatureClimateChange #Europeanforests

Time’s up! Our blue planet has reached multiple tipping points—adapting to climate change isn’t tomorrow’s problem, it’s today’s crisis. We’re unprepared for rising seas, irreversible biodiversity loss, and the health and economic impacts changing the lives and livelihoods of communities worldwide. Our health and our future is on the line. Will our oceans save us, or will we be swept away? We are thrilled to have partnered with The New York Climate Exchange, Climate Group and our allies at The Undertow during #NYCClimateWeek to help answer that question! If you're in town, don’t miss The Ocean Countdown: Dine, Design, Do—our event focused on uniting ocean and coastal solutions, projects, and funders. Transitions are never easy, and we’ve learned a lot from the green transition. Now, we’re eager to apply those lessons to ensure the blue transition goes further, faster, and fairer. If you want to know more and help us shape the future, join us on Friday, September 27th, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT. We’re bringing together innovators, project enablers, and a range of funders - what we refer to as the 3 hearts of the Okhtapus - to explore how ocean/coastal solutions can turn the tide on climate change. We’ll be diving deep into critical themes: 🎣 What We Take ♻ What We Waste 🌍 What We Protect 🏝 What We Repair And hearing from some incredible people like Laurian Farrell, Kate Brown, Stephen Hammer, Nidia Martínez, Ph.D., mark huang, Heather Starck Zachary A. McCue and other #blueplanetstars. Whether you’re driving innovation, enabling projects, financing impact, or simply sharing our vision for a thriving blue planet, we would love to have you!  Don’t miss your chance to make waves! Secure your spot now and be part of the change. 🌊 📅 Date: September 27th, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM EDT 📍 Location: 309 Clayton Rd, New York, NY 10004 🔗 Register: https://shorturl.at/IyOFL #oceancountdown24 #NYCClimateWeek2024 #OceanSolutions #ClimateAction #Oceanclimateaction #Oceanresilience Mehrnaz Ghojeh, Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, WEDG Serena Nguyen, Amanda Horn

I’m still buzzing with inspiration after New York Climate Week. It was a whirlwind of conversations, connections, and insights that truly left me feeling super charged for nature. There was an energy in the air that felt transformative—like the pieces are finally coming together. On the flight home, I took some time to reflect on what I learned and wanted to share a few thoughts with you. It’s a critical moment for those of us working to build a sustainable future, and I’m excited to see where we go from here! 1. Can we rename Climate Week? Because, honestly, it wasn’t just about the climate—and that’s a good thing. For the first time, it felt like the conversation across the industry naturally linked climate change mitigation with biodiversity loss (and potential gain), and the community benefits needed to power the change. The big question now: how do we ensure the next wave of climate finance walks the walk and doesn’t just mitigate emissions, but also delivers meaningful biodiversity uplift and community impact? The pressure’s on, but here’s the good news—those holding the purse strings really seem to get it. 2. Catalytic Capital: The Roadblock to Saving the World? Talk to any project developer, and they’ll tell you the same thing: securing initial capital to develop projects is the number one challenge. Ironically, despite (potentially) being the highest-reward phase, it's also the most neglected in terms of investment. And we’re not even talking about millions—sometimes a few hundred thousand to get things moving. It's fantastic that half-billion-dollar nature funds are being set up, but here’s the rub: without funding for feasibility studies, there won’t be any projects for those funds to back. And no projects? No return on that capital. So yes, people are listening—but we need more action. 3. There’s Got to Be a Better Way Let’s face it—most project developers are small-scale operators with limited budgets. Yet, to secure the kind of capital we need, we’re expected to hopscotch across Manhattan for a week. It’s not just costly, it’s exclusionary. Many events are either booked solid or reserved for those already high up the ladder. This inefficiency means that some groundbreaking projects, especially from lower income regions, might never get a seat at the table. Surely, there’s a more accessible, streamlined way to connect capital with projects before they fizzle out from sheer lack of opportunity? 4. We have an incurable malady: hope. For the first time in a long time, I left the week with a real sense of optimism for our planet’s future. The conversation felt... different. It wasn’t just about ticking boxes or appeasing stakeholders; there was a palpable shift in how we’re talking about climate, biodiversity, and community. I met so many visionaries orchestrating bold initiatives and incredible investors with a clear and deep sense of purpose. Is it possible that this could this be the turning point?

#climaterisk Scientists Warn of Catastrophic Damage to Great Barrier Reef as Oceans Hit 400-Year High in Temperatures The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing its hottest ocean temperatures in 400 years, leading to widespread coral bleaching. Human-caused climate change has been identified as the primary driver of these rapid temperature increases, posing a severe threat to the reef's ecosystem. Scientists, including Dr. Benjamin Henley, who led new research on the Coral Sea, warn that recent heatwaves are the most extreme in four centuries. They stress the need for urgent global action to prevent further damage to this iconic natural wonder. #GreatBarrierReef #ClimateChange #CoralBleaching #OceanTemperatures #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalImpact #MarineConservation #ClimateCrisis #ScientificResearch #ReefProtection #ESG https://lnkd.in/enEmzwaH

This #EarthDay, we’ve compiled a list of essential Environmental Studies titles worth exploring, especially for those interested in the effects of climate change. Read/Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gZzCarKJ #Solved #Environment #ClimateAction David Miller

Will cities continue to lead the way in climate action amidst the crises caused by climate change, pandemics, and conflict? Our new Nature Cities paper says “yes” – especially if cities leverage co-benefits from climate action and engage with climate and sustainability initiatives 🌿 In our global analysis of 793 cities, focused on the COVID-19 crisis, we find that: ·  Cities maintained short-term climate commitments through COVID-19 despite financing challenges, with many in the Global South showing increased climate action without corresponding funding increases. ·  On green recovery efforts, cities in East Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania take the lead, while cities in Europe and North America show less ambition. ·  Cities that join climate networks or actively partner with businesses on sustainability initiatives were more likely to maintain consistent climate action efforts during COVID-19 and to implement a greater number of green recovery measures. ·  Cities that identified health co-benefits from climate action show more resilient climate action during COVID-19. A big thank you to my wonderful co-authors: Tanya O'Garra (especially for her leadership and mentorship), Andrew Deneault, Christopher Orr and Sander Chan!