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.

Asia and the Pacific is one of the most expansive and diverse regions on earth. It contains some of the greatest disparities in wealth and access resources whilst being rich in culture and innovation. There are areas where you can walk for miles and never meet a soul and in others you can barely move through the hustle and bustle of densely populated cities. The sheer complexity of cultures and peoples is all at once overwhelming and at the same time a magnificent display of the human capacity to adapt and be creative. Yet, as the climate crisis worsens, and few places are left untouched by its impacts, the strengths and weaknesses of political systems and local methods of resilience will be tested in equal measure.

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.

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.

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.

Women have been the strength and stay of many African Nations throughout history as warriors, mothers, matriarchs, freedom fighters and now politicians, NGO workers and climate activists. The disenfranchised, poor, and repressed image of African women and girls often portrayed in global media could not be further from the truth for many amazing women who are taking their place in what was and to some extent remains a patriarchal society in almost every nation across the continent. The strength of these women to defy traditional gender roles and seek a career and voice outside of the home evidences at least in part the importance of their role in politics and in particular their steering of the climate policies to come. In a region which is already experiencing the grave impacts of climate change in the form of drought, desertification, forced migration, etc. the inevitable loss of life, livelihoods and futures are often felt most deeply by women due to the systemic gender inequalities which are so deeply rooted in African society. This does not mean however that these women are either powerless or vulnerable as many have weathered far greater storms and when given the opportunity will exhibit far greater resilience to disasters and crises than their male counterparts. 

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.

Cop26 has proven, once again, to be a disappointment for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). As leaders, politicians and activists convened in Glasgow (UK) for the United Nations Climate Change Conference the initial utopian images of green energy, reduced plastic and a world dedicated to stopping the oncoming crisis morphed into a less promising picture. For those in the know, the inner political cogs had been whirring for some time and not all for the benefit of the climate…

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.