Environmental Defense Fund’s Post

This year's Water Leadership Institute, cohosted by EDF and Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), brought together leaders from disadvantaged and underrepresented communities on the frontlines of California’s water crisis. For four Saturdays, participants shared their expertise on local water issues, developed leadership skills, accessed foundational resources, and — critically — took advantage of a safe space for connection. The biggest takeaway? Local leaders want — and should have — a voice in water governance. And we desperately need more pathways for their participation. https://www.edf.org/Z6bi

If tropical deforestation were a country, it would rank fourth in global emissions. But the good news is, we have tools available to make forests worth more alive than dead. One of those is high-integrity, jurisdictional-scale forest carbon credits. Read more about how they can channel financing to critical tropical forests and the encouraging signs carbon credit markets are ready for primetime by EDF’s, Sr. Director of Sustainable Finance, Forests, Dylan McCall-Landry. https://lnkd.in/d_mPuR56

The cost of ecosystem collapse? A $2.7 trillion hit to global GDP by 2030. The effects on business would be significant — ranging from unstable supply chains to increased expenses. But embedding nature-positive goals into your company’s net zero strategy can drive climate progress and help safeguard business longevity. Out now, the Nature-Positive Pathway from the Net Zero Action Accelerator offers essential guidance and actionable steps for navigating these challenges. https://www.edf.org/Z6Lz

Last week, the Jurisdictional REDD+ Technical Assistance Partnership (JTAP) led the first south-to-south exchange of experiences between Ecuador and Costa Rica. The event brought together government delegates and Indigenous representatives from both countries to address the challenges and opportunities in implementing jurisdictional REDD+, biodiversity mechanisms, and the financial sustainability of conservation areas. EDF’s Senior Manager, IPLC & Conservation Partnerships, Forests, Santiago Garcia said: “The event highlighted that the involvement of Indigenous Peoples is a dynamic process that requires sufficient financial and technical resources. These resources enable governments to provide the appropriate conditions and cultural framework necessary to ensure the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in REDD+ processes.” The two participating countries emphasized that while the integrity of carbon markets is of critical importance, it is equally essential that the procedures for generating carbon credits be efficient and effective. This includes simplifying the complexity of these processes to achieve full and efficient implementation of jurisdictional REDD+.