Wind Turbines at Texas's Los Vientos wind farm. Ken Rowland, Flickr

Best of Landscape News 2020: Finance

Our pick of this year’s top stories

28 December 2020

Despite the immense economic benefits of halting climate change and protecting the world’s biodiversity, such efforts will depend on public and private actors directing funds to the industries and initiatives that will achieve these goals. This will mark a considerable shift in the current financial system, from financing environmentally harmful industries such as coal and oil extraction to funding more sustainable sectors. Read this selection of Landscape News stories to find out how global finance can invest in our future.

Building the business case for biodiversity

Why investing in natural capital makes sense for people, planet (and profit!)

Farmers harvesting coffee in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Yusuf Ahmad, World Agroforestry

Green bonds fall short in biodiversity and sustainable land-use finance, says research

Energy projects receive most green bond proceeds, new paper discusses finding balance

Green bonds are debt mechanisms whose proceeds go to fund projects that further sustainable development and environmental betterment, such as moringa-harvesting cooperatives that improve the lives of rural women in Guinea, seen here. UN Women, Flickr

Big insurance urges government and private sectors to invest in protecting biodiversity

One-fifth of all countries at risk of natural collapse, says new Swiss RE report

Mangrove forests have been reported to buffer areas against various storms - a valuable ecosystem service. Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons — Mangrove forests have been reported to buffer areas against various storms – a valuable ecosystem service. Jakub Hałun, Wikimedia Commons

Increasing protected areas could yield USD 250 billion in economic output

Report finds economic benefits of expanding protected areas outweigh costs 5-to-1

Sichuan's Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a landscape of connected valleys in southwest China. Roman Korzh, Flickr — Sichuan’s Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, a landscape of connected valleys in southwest China. Roman Korzh, Flickr

A decade old, the world’s largest climate fund receives its first pulse-check

Jyotsna Puri casts her critical eye on the Green Climate Fund’s strengths and weaknesses

The Zambezi Delta in Mozambique, where the Green Climate Fund is supporting projects on food-security for women and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change.

In the Seychelles, blue bonds turn national debt into marine protection

30 percent of the nation’s exclusive economic zone is now a marine protected area

In 2018, the Seychelles launched the world's first sovereign blue bond. Federico Lorenzini, Flickr — In 2018, the Seychelles launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond. Federico Lorenzini, Flickr

What are green bonds funding – and not funding?

GLF Live with Paul Chahine

Topics

biodiversity, Climate Finance, economy, finance

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