Last week, at the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, representatives from 185 countries adopted a multibillion dollar fund aimed at protecting the planet's biodiversity (thegef).
The rapid transition of energy resources from fossil fuels toward renewables has been widely recognized as an essential tool in mitigating climate change. Yet, renewable energy development projects and facilities can be land use-intensive and have the potential to negatively impact conservation areas. To attempt to tackle these issues, President Joseph Biden signed Executive Order No. 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which (1) outlines a way forward for increasing both renewable energy production and acreage of conservation areas, and (2) pledges a target of conserving 30% of the nation's lands and waters by 2030. On September 28, 2021, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts that explored the intersections of climate mitigation, renewable energy development, and biodiversity conservation. This Dialogue presents a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.
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.
would direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of NOAA, to provide for ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming, make coastal communities more resilient, and provide for the conservation and restoration of ocean and coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations.
would direct the Administrator of NOAA to provide for ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming, make coastal communities more resilient, and provide for the conservation and restoration of ocean and coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations.