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Scenic evening view of the Blue Nile river, Bahir Dar and Lake Tana in the background. Ethiopia, Amhara Region

Looking to nature for solutions

How do we address the climate crisis, preserve biodiversity and recover from the pandemic? If a frog is put into hot water, it jumps straight out. However, if the water is at room temperature and then heated, the frog settles and relaxes, becoming so comfortable that it does not react, even at…
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Himalayan glacier with lake

World Water Week at Home

This week is World Water Week, an annual event sponsored by the Stockholm International Water Institute that is being held virtually for the first time in its history because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have attended World Water Week since its earlier days over 20 years ago and for me there is no…
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A baby orangutan hangs on a tree in Borneo

Why companies should worry about losing wildlife

Biodiversity loss threatens society, businesses and a well-functioning economy Biodiversity has decreased by 60 percent in just four decades, the WWF Living Planet Index has concluded. Scientists even speak of the Earth entering the sixth extinction event in its history, and it appears that the…
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Woman mining for gold

How the Minamata Convention can help "build back better" on ASGM

As the Minamata Convention on Mercury reaches the third anniversary of its entry into force, I am so inspired by the work of those who are seeking to improve conditions for the world’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities by advancing solutions to the rampant use of toxic…
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Mangrove forest underwater

'By destroying nature we destroy ourselves'

Loss of nature carries a huge economic cost, but embracing it as a solution pays handsome dividends The coronavirus might have its origins in the caves of Yunnan province, but make no mistake: nature did not create this crisis, we did. When we encroach on the natural world, we do more than cause…
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Peruvian man in foreground of mountain backdrop

Indigenous peoples and COVID-19: response and resilience

This year’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples offers a moment to reflect on how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been for indigenous peoples around the world and how much promise there is from ongoing initiatives to support and engage these communities who have much to teach…
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Suspended walking bridge in Costa Rica rainforest

Investing in nature makes more sense than ever

It is not easy to plan for the future during a pandemic or a recession. But this is 2020, and governments and businesses are working hard to navigate both challenges at once. As they do so, it is incredibly important they cast aside the notion that the environment is a tangential concern. The …
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Floating boat market in Indonesia

Preserving nature is a strategic business imperative

Sustainability is the pathway to recovery and resilience The global phenomena of the COVID-19 pandemic is tangible evidence of how an imbalanced ecosystem can bring massive economic damage and social inequalities, putting millions of lives and businesses at risk. In the long run and, more…
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Roundabout in the middle of a forest in Belgium. Circular road surrounded by trees

To build a resilient world, we must go circular. Here's how to do it

The best way to build resilience against future pandemics and the impact of climate change is to move to a circular economy. Doing so could address 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions and provide a $4.5 trillion economic opportunity. Here, the co-chairs of the Platform for Accelerating the…
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Worker harvesting coffee berries

Money can indeed grow on trees

Five years after the Paris Agreement was reached, the need for global action on climate change is clearer than ever. Calls for mitigation and a green economic recovery continue to catch headlines, even if in the margins of the COVID-19 newsreel. Yet the natural corollary, climate adaptation,…

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