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U.N. RELEASES FIRST DRAFT OF AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

United Nations negotiators have released 21 proposals, setting ambitious new goals for environmental conservation this decade (UN Environment Programme). The draft agreement is broad in its targets.

HONDURAN COURT FINDS CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE GUILTY FOR MURDER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDER

On July 5, Roberto David Castillo, the former head of Desarrollos Energéticos (DESA), was convicted as a co-conspirator in the murder of Honduran environmental defender and Indigenous rights activist, Berta Cáceres. His sentencing hearing will take place on August 3.

FRANCE’S HIGHEST ADMINISTRATIVE COURT ORDERS GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE CLIMATE MITIGATION EFFORTS

Country: France

On July 1, the Conseil d’Etat, France’s highest administrative court, found that the French government has not taken sufficient legislative action to meet its carbon emissions reduction goals, and ordered the government to take “all necessary measures to curb the curve of greenhouse gas emissions” (Politico).

BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RESIGNS AMID ILLEGAL LOGGING INVESTIGATION

Country: Brazil

On June 23, Brazil’s Environment Minister, Ricardo Salles, resigned. This news comes one month after the country’s Supreme Court authorized an investigation against Salles, alleging he had obstructed a federal investigation into illegal logging in the Amazon. He will be replaced by Secretary for the Amazon Joaquim Alvaro Pereira Leite (CNN).

REINSURERS SEEK TO EXCLUDE COAL INVESTMENTS FROM BULK-BUY CONTRACTS

On June 8, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared to the Insurance Development Forum that the insurance and reinsurance industry has “a key role to play” in the future of climate action (Reinsurance News).

BANK OF ENGLAND AIMS FOR NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050

Country: United Kingdom

On June 3, the Bank of England (BoE)’s Governor, Andrew Bailey, stated the bank would seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions associated with running its physical offices and printing banknotes to net zero by 2050 “at the latest.” The decision is in line with a larger push by the United Kingdom to improve its climate action agenda ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be hosted by the country in Glasgow later this year (Reuters and

ARCTIC COUNCIL ISSUES JOINT DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF PEACE AND CLIMATE ACTION

On May 20, the Arctic Council held their 12^th ministerial meeting in Reykjavik, convening the foreign ministers of the eight Arctic States.

BRAZIL’S LOWER HOUSE PASSES BILL TO LOOSEN PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS

Country: Brazil

On May 12, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies passed a bill to expedite infrastructure, mining, and agricultural projects by relaxing existing environmental regulations associated with the permitting process.

GERMAN COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF YOUTH CLIMATE ACTIVISTS, CALLS FOR ACTION

Country: Germany

On April 29, Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court ruled in favor of nine young climate activists in their challenge against Germany’s 2019 Federal Climate Change Act. The law aims to meet the country’s carbon emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement and calls for the German government to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 relative to 1990 levels.

COUNTRIES STRENGTHEN CLIMATE COMMITMENTS AT BIDEN-LED EARTH DAY SUMMIT

On April 22, U.S. President Joseph Biden convened a virtual summit to commemorate Earth Day. The summit was attended by the leaders of 40 countries, including many of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters (Reuters). Observers have called the event the return of U.S.

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