BIODIVERSITY

Global food industry on course to drive rapid habitat loss, according to research

The global food system is on course to drive rapid and widespread ecological damage with almost 90% of land animals likely to lose some of their habitat by 2050, research has found. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that unless the food industry is rapidly transformed, changing what people eat and how it is produced, the world faces widespread biodiversity loss in the coming decades. The study examined the potential impact of making ambitious changes in specific regions or countries, including eating less meat, reductions in food loss and waste, increases in crop yields and international land-use planning. The authors say this varied approach enables policymakers to identify which changes will have the largest benefit in their country or region. (The Guardian)

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT 

A plan by Eastern states to cap tailpipe emissions gets off to a slow start

An ambitious plan by Eastern states in the US for a regional cap-and-trade program to curb greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks has got off to a slow start following its launch. Just four states — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., formally agreed to adopt it. But so far, only a few states have said they would begin implementing the policy. In a separate statement on Monday, eight other states left open the possibility of joining at a future date but would not commit for now. Those states include Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. In its initial phase, the program aims to cut vehicle emissions 26 percent by 2032 in participating states.  (NY Times)

SUPPLY CHAIN

Rampant labour abuse uncovered at some RSPO-certified oil palm plantations

A coalition of NGOs has documented rampant labour abuses in five palm oil plantations in Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer and exporter of the commodity. The palm oil from these plantations is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and ends up in products made by food giant Nestlé. Among the labour abuses documented by the group Transnational Palm Oil Labour Solidarity (TPOLS) are exposure to hazardous chemicals, a reliance on temporary workers, below minimum-wage payments, lack of maternity and menstrual leave for female workers and the suppression of independent unions. The coalition said this is a widespread problem in the plantation sector in Indonesia. (Eco-Business)

NATURAL CAPITAL 

BP invests and gets majority stake in US forest offset firm Finite Carbon

BP has snapped up a majority stake in the Americas’ largest developer of forest-based carbon offset projects, Finite Carbon, the oil and gas giant announced last week. The deal aims to support the expansion of Finite Carbon, which identifies and develops projects that enable landowners to generate revenue from the protection, restoration and sustainable management of forests, BP said. It marks the latest move from a major fossil fuel firm into the burgeoning carbon offsets market, as carbon intensive companies increasingly seek to invest in natural solutions such as forest, peatland and mangrove restoration so as to offset emissions on their pathway towards net-zero targets. (Green Biz)

ENERGY

Vestas invests €500m in new wind farm partnership

Danish clean energy company Vestas is investing €500m in a new partnership with fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, expanding a push into project development from the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer. The Danish company’s revenues have grown by 50 per cent in the past two years owing to high demand for wind turbines and maintenance services. Clean energy has been the fastest growing part of the energy sector this year, with a record-setting 198GW of renewables to be installed by the end of 2020, according to the International Energy Agency. Prices for wind turbines have fallen over the past decade, reducing profit margins for leading manufactures in an intensely competitive sector. (Financial Times)*

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