New York Week Drives Momentum for Climate Action Businesses, world leaders, communities, youth activists and other stakeholders came together in New York, US, for Climate Week NYC 2019 to discuss, catalyze and demand greater climate action. More than 350 events took place throughout the Week in 11 categories. IUCN sets the record straight on a 2017 trophy hunting opinion On 27 September 2019, a 2017 opinion by the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Ethics Specialist Group was reposted in the news section of the IUCN website, and was misconstrued as a new IUCN report by many. The document…

Losing our ‘local Amazon’ forest As news of the Amazon forest fires reaches more and more people, Tropical Depression “Nimfa” leaves the Philippines. It is the 14th cyclone to hit the country this year as listed by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and was weakened by Luzon’s natural protective barrier: the Sierra Madre. Ex-climate envoy questions PH action on climate change amid global support for strike Hundreds of thousands of New York’s youth filled the streets of Manhattan on Friday afternoon, joining millions of people in global protests against climate change inaction. Summit convened by UN Secretary-General…

Gatchalian calls for probe into PH greenhouse gas emissions Senator Win Gatchalian wants the Senate to look into the status of the Philippines’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nationally determined contribution (NDC), to ensure that the country meets its promise to reduce at least 70% of its emissions by 2030. SC decision on P1.8 billion fines against MWSS, water concessionaires serves as wake up call The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the Supreme Court order imposing ₱1.8-billion fines against the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its concessionaires serves as a wake up call for big…

Global Environment Pact Recommendations Forwarded to UNGA The co-chairs of the of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on a global pact for the environment have forwarded the Working Group’s recommendations to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The Group, established by the UNGA in 2018, held a series of meetings to consider possible gaps in international environmental law (IEL) and environment-related instruments with a view to strengthening their implementation. The resulting recommendations were agreed on 23 May 2019, and do not include the creation of a new international instrument. P20-M US grant boosts PH fight vs. plastic pollution On Thursday,…

Foreign Affairs chief says PH won’t send delegation to climate change talks Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday said he would reject “all official participation” in climate change conferences that would require air travel. G7 Environment Ministers Commit to Fight Biodiversity Loss, Tackle Climate Change, Inequalities The Group of 7 (G7) Environment Ministers agreed on a Communiqué and the Metz Charter on Biodiversity at the G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting. The Communiqué addresses inequalities and inclusivity in transitioning towards a green future, the role of science and research in the context of sustainable development, international mobilization and leadership for…

UN Project Seeks to Eliminate Mercury in ASGM Sector in Mongolia and the Philippines The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have launched a USD 60 million project titled, ‘Contribution Toward the Elimination of Mercury in the Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining Sector: From Miners To Refiners.’ The project will help reduce harmful mercury emissions and protect the health and well-being of the millions of men, women and children working in the industry in Mongolia and the Philippines. Climate Action Summit Joint Appeal from the UN System to the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit U.N.…