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).

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.

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.

Change. There is nothing more intrinsic to the existence of humanity and the planet we live on as change. Yet, such a short word conveys not only that strange and unsettling mixture of emotions one feels when hearing it but is also used to translate into language the way time interacts with human society and the natural world. Today, we face change on an unprecedented scale, but this change is not one we can afford to be fearful of, nor can we afford ourselves the time to become accustomed to such rapid changes. Instead, we must be bold, we must take action and we must embrace changes in every facet of our lives, from the food on our plates, to the way that we travel, and to the items we pick off the shelves. In governance and policy, the changes will need to be yet more extensive with restructuring required at every level and in every sector to ensure that our planet has a future.

Never before has climate change been so apparent to the global population. As heat waves, wildfires, floods, and every imaginable extreme weather event continues to shake the foundations of modern society we are rapidly reaching a breaking point. As Europeans and Americans flock to the beaches and leave the fans and AC running 24/7 in an attempt cool down during the second major heat wave of the year it can be easy to forget the true source of the heat and how issues such as this are a daily battle for many areas of the global South. As climate change clashes with war, limited socio-economic development, pandemics, racial inequality, gender inequality, ineffective/inefficient governments and greenwashing across industry and agriculture it can be difficult to see any possible future for our planet.

2022 marked a year of hope as numerous nations continued to speak out on climate change and the need for sustainable development. The Cop26 agenda appeared to be in full force as not just international governments but entire communities were dedicated to making changes that would positively benefit our planet. Six months later and the progress we have made leaves much to be desired.

For centuries cobalt ore was not usually mined for the cobalt content, rather, it was often recovered as a by-product of mining for various other ores such as silver, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, manganese and arsenic. Due to the complex processing required to concentrate and extract the cobalt from these oars this metal has been considered precious throughout history, from being used for jewellery in ancient Persia, to porcelain in Ming dynasty China, humanity has long admired this malleable and at times beautiful substance. However, during the 20th and 21st centuries its uses have expanded to areas such as cancer therapy, radioactive tracers, magnetic alloys and battery materials for electric cars (Gregersen, 2022) making it one of the most in demand metals around the world. Unfortunately, as is so often the case when certain resources come to be considered as valuable, exploitation and destruction is never far behind…

This edition hopes to take you, our reader, on a trip around the world with stories ranging from Japanese carbon tax proposals, to India's searing heat waves, to the future of emperor penguins in the Antarctic, and these stories shine a light on some of the most concerning and questionable behaviours of governments and businesses around the world. We strike a balance by also including stories of hope and promise such as the upcoming Australian elections and the innovations being made by Cassava breeders in Nigeria. Our global community is the prevailing theme of this edition in recognition of how globalisation and the willingness to work together can be a powerful force for change. In our sustainability spotlight we have included an incredible project which aims to rewild our natural spaces and rediscover those species we believed to be lost forever.

This edition hopes to provide you with some useful food for thought ranging from rethinking misinterpretations of the IPCC report, to contemplating the nuclear energy turnaround in South Korea. These stories shine a light on some of the most concerning and questionable behaviours of governments and businesses around the world. Food and water is the prevailing theme of this edition in recognition of the cost of living crisis and the difficulties faced by many in being able to afford to put food on the table for their families. In our sustainability spotlight we have included a successful new app which aims to reduce food waste and which we hope our readers will try out the next time you have a surplus of food. This newsletter, as usual, will provide a short summary of some of the most notable, informative and quirky recent climate stories in the hope that it provides inspiration and insight into climate news from around the world. Finally, we want to hear from you, our readers, about any topics that interest you, which we can either produce research papers on or include stories in future newsletters.

We would like to dedicate this Newsletter to all those women across the world who are involved in the climate and environmental sectors. From scientists, politicians, policy makers, NGO workers and CEOs to climate activists, eco-friendly shoppers, recycle plant workers and farmers. Every one of you makes a valued contribution to the fight against climate change and we cannot hope to beat this crisis without your knowledge, strength, tenacity and most importantly numbers.

From the origins of how humans began understanding the climate crisis to court cases brought against animals and plants, we have 5 sustainability, climate, and nature themed books for you to read in 2022.

Climate news can often leave one feeling despondent about the future of our natural world. As great tree's that have seen more of history than a mere human could ever hope to are felled to meet the short-term needs of a greedy society and plastic chokes our oceans, destroying ecosystems which have existed untouched for thousands of years, the consequences of our presence on this planet continue to be truly catastrophic and yet hope remains as is evidenced both in the small and larger acts that can be identified if we look hard enough.

Cop26 is less than six months behind us and already we are seeing that the agreements made are not evergreen. Instead, autumn has come early as each pledge, like a leaf turned brown and weakened by the retraction of energy, falls from the tree, leaving the branches bare and waiting for another spring to grow back into full, but temporary glory. With Cop27 a year away the climate news of the last few weeks should create great cause for concern. Whilst pledges are being implemented, many are facing challenges and we must be patient in allowing both the private and public sector to find new solutions to the age-old issues that plague sustainability and net-zero aims.

The new year has arrived and we are looking forward to positive changes for the climate and sustainable investment. As Cop26 fades from the wider public discourse it has never been more important to share news on the various events occurring across the world and to hold governments and organisations accountable for their actions.