In our previous paper we covered all the major issues associated with the mining of cobalt and various other precious minerals which are contributing to the sustainability revolution. In this paper we will shift focus to the solutions and innovations which are taking place in the mining sector in the hope that the further dissemination of this information will educate the general public and possibly inspire those involved in mining to look into and apply some of the things they have learnt here. Our emphasis will also be on ESG’s, SDG’s and accountability which all have a part to play in changing the face of mineral mining around the world.

Climate finance and the loss and damage fund have been some of the most vigorously debated topics linked to climate change in recent years. Climate finance “refers to local, national or transnational financing—drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing—that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change” (United Nations Climate Change, 2023). It is by no means a new topic of discussion or a new idea as it has been part of the international climate discourse since the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris agreement. The climate finance movement has, over the past few decades been championed by those nations who have contributed the least to climate change, whilst experiencing its worst effects without possessing the necessary financial capital to bolster their resilience or rebuild in the wake of disasters (United Nations Climate Change, 2023).

Gender equality is a global issue. One that requires unique approaches which are carefully curated to fit the needs of the multiple peoples, cultures and geographies in which they are placed. There are, however, some common threads to gender equality, which include access to education, to healthcare, to a livelihood, to safety and to a certain degree of autonomy. Whilst great strides have been taken across the world to improve women and girl’s access to all these crucial aspects of life, climate change is threatening the advancement of equality and endangering the lives of women and girls across the globe.

South-East Asia is a melting pot for biodiversity, as the flora and fauna of South and East Asia converge with Australasia and Oceania to produce some of the most vibrant, eclectic and unique species in the world. The warm tropical climate of the region alongside the abundant freshwater sources and rich, fertile lands have lead humanity to settle across South-East Asia and for millenia live in relative peace with the abundant biodiversity. For centuries South-East Asia has played host to waves of colonisation which has depleted natural resources and decimated its biodiversity and in the decades since independence every nation in the region has commenced plans to protect the natural world whilst balancing a need to develop and bring their populations out of poverty. Today, South-East Asia has reached a critical point as numerous species come close to extinction and natural water sources choke with the world’s waste. The coming months and years will be critical for the survival of South-East Asia’s biodiversity.

As we cross the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas and head out into the staggered rice paddies, raging rivers and great metropolises of China the staggering level of biodiversity in East Asia really comes into view. Across the sea a string of islands where cranes dance in the snow, monkeys relax in hot springs and deer bow to temple visitors, Japan offers a glimpse of ecology in an East Asian Island and exhibits how nature exists alongside the fast-paced development of humanity. Just to the North stands the last vestiges of communism and one of the world’s most significant biodiversity question marks. North Korea, a nation notorious for shutting out the world could prove to be either a safe haven for nature or it could have wiped out some flora and fauna before we even knew it existed. Biodiversity in East Asia is amongst the most unique, most threatened and most diverse in the world. The endearing nature of the regions curious creatures have led to some, such as the panda bear, becoming global symbols of conservation with millions being spent to ensure their continued survival, providing evidence that when humanity truly cares for biodiversity it can bring even the most critically endangered species back from the brink.

Southern Asia is a region infamous for its outstanding natural beauty and abundant biodiversity. From the great flowing river Ganges to the Himalayan mountains to the dense jungles of the Western Ghats to the brilliant coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, Southern Asia is a paradise for naturalists, scientists, conservationists and tourists alike. The regions capacity to sustain life and to produce societies and cultures which have found ways to work in harmony with nature has been something to behold, unfortunately, South Asia is fast losing its balance and today the fight is on to rescue and preserve biodiversity across the region. This mini report provides an overview of how our presence in Central Asia is impacting on the natural world and presents three regional case studies; India, Bhutan and the Maldives to illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

The vast expanse of Central Asia holds some of the world’s largest untouched spaces. The grasslands, semi-deserts, and high mountain ranges which make up the majority of the regions ecosystems have given rise to some of the most weird and wonderful species on earth, such as the Saiga antelope pictured above. Central Asia has in some ways managed to fall off the map, as mainstream international press coverage, with the exception of Afghanistan, is limited to the occasional snippet on strange regimes, military build-ups punctuated by the intermittent arrival of naturalists and wildlife filmmakers. Beyond the borders of the various ‘stans’ that make up Central Asia little is really known of the region after being hidden behind the iron curtain for much of the 20th Century and only recently transitioning into a mixture of authoritarian regimes that are almost as insular. This has left environmentalists and naturalists scrambling around trying to figure out the state of biodiversity in nations that to this day are not always willing to take in visitors with open arms. However, looks can be deceiving as nations which were once so reclusive are beginning to open the doors just a crack and with that we can gain a glimpse into how the indigenous wildlife is faring and what the various challenges are to their survival. This mini report provides an overview of how our presence in Central Asia is impacting on the natural world and presents three regional case studies; Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan to illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

If you were to conjure up an image in your mind of the Middle East you might picture camels, lush green oasis, rolling sand dunes and Bedouin nomads trekking through the desert in search of elusive water sources. An image like this can feel more like the backdrop to a Lawrence of Arabia style film than a true representation of the modern day Middle East where the contrasts are sharper than ever. From traditional subsistence to luxury lifestyles the Middle East has it all and the transformation of the region has happened in the blink of eye. Yet, with this rapid change there has also been a marked decline in biodiversity across the Middle East and this is naturally cause for concern. The region has been home to some of the most significant empires in history and has in many ways transformed our understanding of the world around us as great Arab scholars have researched and produced works in mathematics, science and literature. Today, they must channel their efforts into a new field of work; the conservation of the natural world, particularly those fragile ecosystems in the Middle East which are hanging on by a thread. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present four regional case studies; Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and Palestine to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

When we discuss biodiversity, it is only natural to start picturing the immense, magnificent, distinctive, and diverse flora and fauna of the African continent. Over such a vast area the challenges posed by climate change, a sharp increase in consumption both in Africa and beyond, and a boom in urbanisation and population size can seem insurmountable. The face of Africa is changing, as cities fill with skyscrapers, industry is expanding and cultures and cuisines from across the continent have gained new found popularity across the globe. Yet, whilst African nations are finding their feet on the international stage and continuing to contend with the damage done by decades of colonisation and oppression, followed by sporadic civil wars, violence, further civil unrest, and a high number of fragile economies it is easy to see how biodiversity took a backseat. In the pursuit of modernisation and development African governments and businesses, like so many others across the globe, have either been forced or were willing to trade in the health of the natural world for monetary gain. Today this is changing, as many nations see the importance of the natural world and have in numerous regions become leaders in conservation and innovation linked to protecting biodiversity. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present four regional case studies; Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and Madagascar to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

As the BBC comes under fire for censoring David Attenborough’s new series ‘Wild Isles’ which documents the destruction of nature across the UK we thought it about time we produced a short summary of the state of biodiversity in both the UK and Europe. This mini report will provide an overview of how our presence is impacting on the natural world and present three regional cases studies; the UK, Germany and Ukraine to better illustrate biodiversity in a national context.

The summer has arrived and there is excitement in the air as schools wind down for the holidays, the suitcases are dragged out of the attic, we go digging around in the medicine cabinet for that one bottle of sunscreen and we scroll on our phone for hours after typing in 'things to do near (insert place name here)'. Flights are taking off in all directions as enthusiastic travellers head off to spend a few weeks in the sun or board trains looking forward to a relaxing staycation. For some the warmer weather in places like the UK is welcomed but in reality it should be considered as a warning sign.

Global poverty is on the rise. With the toxic mixture of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the ensuing economic instability, and the mushrooming cost of living crises, for people and communities around the world it is difficult to imagine how life could be any harder or how it could improve. The World Bank estimates that in 2020 the number of people living in extreme poverty rose by 70 million to more than 700 million. The bumpy road to post-pandemic recovery has brought little improvement as the present overall number is only expected to have dropped to around 685 million people. If this global turbulence were to continue then we can expect to still see 574 million people living in extreme poverty i.e. living on less than $2.15 a day, in 2030 (The World Bank, 2022)…

The territories of the world’s 370 million Indigenous peoples cover 24% of land worldwide and contain 80% of the world’s biodiversity. The Indigenous population of our planet are truly the gatekeepers of our knowledge and understanding of those ecosystems and life cycles upon which we all rely. In recent years we have seen a change in the portrayal of and discourse surrounding Indigenous people. As a global society we are beginning to move away from the victimization and stereotypes that have historically defined how Indigenous people have been viewed and the narrative is changing to reflect the resilience, power, and strength of these communities as well as their transformation into critical agents of environmental conservation.

The gendered aspects of climate change are often discussed by international organizations, policy makers and researchers and yet there is a clear chasm between recognizing the disproportionate effect climate change has on women and girls versus implementing and seeing through policies or actions which would help to close this gap.

Cop15 2022 put biodiversity on the map for many in the financial and investment world and with it came a reminder of how crucial biodiversity and the natural world are to our ability to survive and thrive. US$41.7 trillion of economic value generation is either all or in part dependent upon nature, making the protection of our wild spaces and the various flora and fauna which reside within them of the upmost importance. However, the key to securing a balance between biodiversity and human development is not to look upon the value of the natural world in solely monetary terms. Instead, we must remind ourselves of how our survival as a species is deeply interconnected with those ecosystems on which we rely for food, fresh air, water, and raw materials.

Over the past few years racial inequality has found itself once again in the headlines. Former students of residential schools run by the Catholic church across Canada have been speaking out on the decades long abuse experienced by indigenous pupils. The shocking murder of George Floyd electrified the world to action for Black Lives Matter. The hate crimes against people of Asian heritage rocketed with the outbreak of Covid-19. The conflict in Syria brought thousands of migrants to the gates of Europe and the US leading to far right backlash and scenes of racial hatred not seen since Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech. The once bright image of a cosmopolitan, globalised and egalitarian society almost appeared to be disintegrating as inequality, the Covid-19 pandemic, a shaky economy and government parties dividing faster than bacteria began to jeopardise the harmony that communities across the globe have been striving to achieve. Yet, race-based inequality continues to reach its bony fingers into the structural inequalities we see and hear about in education, employment and general standard of living. Hidden away in plain view are the environmental inequalities that numerous minority ethnic and Indigenous communities are now experiencing as climate change lands on their doorstep and large polluting companies set up shop in their back yard.

2022 was a busy year for the climate movement with peaks and troughs throughout. We saw economic volatility and war in Europe change our reliance on fossil fuels. We saw successful and unsuccessful summits, talks and conferences, bringing us 'loss and damage finance', fossil fuel lobbyists and commitments to protect biodiversity. We saw seriously questionable behaviour by governments and big business as greenwashing spreads and green commitments fall by the wayside. Importantly, we also experienced moments of sheer joy through positive developments in areas ranging from technology to rewilding, to seeing a gradual shift in public awareness of the climate crisis. As the festive season drew to a close and we stepped into a new year once again full of hope for what could be achieved it is important that we take a moment to look back and remind ourselves of those moments which have shaped sustainable finance moving into 2023.

As we rapidly head towards Christmas, communities around the world are putting up decorations, wrapping presents, purchasing huge quantities of food and drink, and traveling varying distances to spend the holiday season with family and friends. Though it's important that we all enjoy this opportunity to take a break from the stresses and anxieties that loom over everyday life and to treat ourselves to a minced pie or box of chocolates it is important that we continue to be mindful of the lifestyle choices we make and how they impact upon the planet.

As the global population tops eight billion we are facing challenges few of us would have envisioned even ten years ago. Food and water insecurity are already prevalent in "hunger hotspots" across the globe with famine threatening people from the Horn of Africa to Afghanistan. The impacts of war and violence are bleeding across national borders and migration is on the rise. The cost-of-living crisis is forcing families to choose between heating or eating and in some cases not being able to do either, instead being forced to rely on the charitable donations of others. Accessing basic resources is rapidly becoming a battle ground as affordability slips through the fingers of the general public, whilst political infighting leaves national economies in tatters. Meanwhile, climate change lingers over us exacerbating every crisis yet further leading to increased gender-based violence, displacement and malnutrition amongst children and adults alike. Yet, we continue our current path, patting ourselves on the back for making compromises at Cop27, or remembering to take the recycling out and all the while either forgetting about or failing to appreciate the bigger picture.

Today the sight of solar panels on the roofs of homes, universities and even businesses is becoming increasingly common. Yet, many remain confused by how solar panels work and continue to feel discouraged from introducing them into their energy supply chain due to the high price tag associated with installation. Uptake has been gradual, and their effectiveness remains questionable in countries such as the UK where temperamental weather patterns are at play. However, in nations and regions that experience steady sunshine solar panels can provide green energy, sustainable jobs, additional income from power sold back into the national grid, and access to electricity for remote communities who were previously living off grid.