Erik Hoffner

Journalist John Liu set up CBS news's bureau in China during the 1980s, where he was witness to rising pollution levels caused by rapid industrialization across the country.

Solving our ecological and climate problems looks a lot less like a techno-utopia and more like a mosaic of actions both to protect and restore nature, and to increase and safeguard human equity in the face of climate change, marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson says on Mongabay’s latest podcast episode. In other words, flashy technology, while necessary in many ways, is just one piece of a much larger climate puzzle. It’s the practical, empathetic, on-the-ground, and sometimes “unsexy” but necessary changes we need to reform our food, economic and governmental systems that play a very large role in whether we have a more livable future for our planet or not, Johnson says. And while it may feel overwhelming, versions of a future where we get things right are possible. Johnson’s new book, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures, contains essays and interviews with experts, journalists, policymakers, farmers, lawyers and activists examining many of these social, political and technological shifts that could move humanity toward a more ecologically sustainable and just future. On this episode of the Mongabay Newscast, the co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab discusses the key insights found in her latest book. Some of these interviews include previous podcast guests like Judith Schwartz and Bill McKibben, with insights ranging from the philosophical to the practical. Switching from industrial agriculture, for example, to a more sustainable agroecological model isn’t just a climate-smart thing to do, but potentially a more just one, requiring local participation and, yes,…This article was originally published on Mongabay

As representatives of NGOs, governments and funding organizations gather in New York City this week for the UN General Assembly and Climate Week to

How do you secure the future of one of Africa’s most endangered large mammals, a species with only an estimated 3,000 remaining in the wild? You protect its habitat – its water resources, grasslands, and birthing areas. But because so many of these animals – like the Grevy’s Zebra – depend on lands outside of formalized protected areas, you find that at the heart of their survival lie the communities who live alongside them. In these areas, which are in both drought and flood-prone northern Kenya, the organizations rising to meet the challenges of the day are not just working with local communities, they are the local community. And they are tackling one of the toughest issues we face today: climate change. The Grevy’s Zebra Trust is a prime example of how community-led conservation is an effective approach to not just biodiversity conservation but to so much more. It is a beautiful story of culture, of wildlife, women, governance, restoration, climate adaptation, of protecting and growing carbon sinks. Yet somehow this impactful, holistic approach to conservation doesn’t get nearly the credit – or the resources – it deserves. Perhaps this is because these solutions and approaches are not really new or cutting-edge. In Africa, both Indigenous and local communities have long been stewarding and managing nature, yet the conservation field has not always recognized their role. This local stewardship is what ensures a fisherwoman can catch enough fish to feed her family for the week having patiently participated in a seasonal fishery closure managed by her…This article was originally published on Mongabay

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) has had a rough year. A hotly contested but eye-popping critique of the efficacy of allegedly up to 90% of carbon credits captured attention in early 2023, followed by line of scandals alleging management malfeasance and staff abuse in some particularly marquee projects. This turbulence has opened the door for advocates who oppose market-based climate responses to start pushing a more categorical agenda, including a “rush” to gather support for a moratorium on carbon market projects ahead of COP29. Advocates have put Indigeneity at the forefront of this agenda, suggesting that market-based approaches are inherently contrary to Indigenous worldviews. The decision to engage markets is framed as a “moral dilemma” for Indigenous peoples. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People recently indicated potential support for a moratorium—despite having issued a comprehensive report just last year insisting that that it was important “not to condemn or deter the financing of green projects and green market strategies but to ensure that [projects] do not perpetuate the violations and abuses currently plaguing extractive and other fossil fuel-related projects.” We respect our fellow advocates and acknowledge the gravity and novelty of risks raised by carbon markets, but we worry about the narrowing space of options, nuance, and attention to context. We question whether a categorical, one-size-fits-all approach such as a moratorium aligns with the fundamental Indigenous right to self-determination. Javan lutung by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay. A recent interview with noted Indigenous leaders Alondra Cerdes Morales and…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Many of us have likely come across that viral video on social media – a young woman touching the back of a large, possibly pregnant, great white shark, swimming alongside it for about 10 seconds. The woman in question, Ocean Ramsey, has two million followers on Instagram and has been capturing attention by demonstrating that when approached in a certain way, sharks are not a threat to humans. But this is just one of many social accounts that showcase close encounters with marine wildlife. Seeing images of people swimming alongside giant sperm whales resting vertically with their calves, floating among groups of nurse sharks, or stroking manta rays has become more common than ever before. While there is an initial fascination in witnessing a human swim peacefully next to what many consider their worst nightmare, or treating a giant like a pet, it raises important questions about the real purpose of such interactions. Moreover, can we be certain that encouraging this shift from fear to confidence is having a net positive effect on the protection of both species involved – humans and wildlife? In a world where over 60% of the global population uses social media, several studies have demonstrated that these platforms can be powerful tools for conservation communication, helping to inform, educate, and drive engagement. Accounts like those of Oceana (with three million followers) and Ocean Conservancy (with over 460,000 followers), for instance, share daily sea life images, promoting awareness campaigns, interviews with experts and communities, and encouraging…This article was originally published on Mongabay

The increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere since pre-industrial times isn’t just driving climate change — it’s also making much of the world’s drylands greener with increased plant growth. This is known as the CO2 fertilization effect, and politicians sometimes cite it to rhetorically downplay the negative global impacts of climate change, saying it’s proof that more CO2 in the atmosphere is a good thing. Our guest on this episode of the Mongabay Newscast says it’s not, and issues a warning against this misleading interpretation. Arden Burrell is a remote-sensing scientist who co-authored the first observation-based study of the desertification of drylands that considers the CO2 fertilization effect, climate change, and climate variability. His new research indicates that while 5 million hectares (12 million acres) of drylands — an area half the size of South Korea — have become desertified, the future of vegetation productivity is an open and debated question. In this conversation with co-host Rachel Donald, he unpacks what the data tell us about the status of the world’s drylands. Drylands are “the world’s breadbasket,” Burrell says, making up 45% of the world’s agricultural land. Crops grown via these highly complex food systems are already experiencing reduced nutritional value due to rising CO2 levels. Drylands’ climate change-driven degradation has already impacted an estimated 213 million people. Burrell says this “global greening” can be a net good, but the increase in vegetation could mask other problems. While the CO2 fertilization effect allows plants to use water more efficiently,…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, a waste worker from Binh Dinh, Vietnam, has worked in the waste collection industry for four decades. She has spent every day at the landfill – her home and source of income – since she was a child. Like many developing economies in the region, Vietnam has limited household waste separation. Informal workers like Thuy support 90% of plastics recycling in the country, separating materials by hand and delivering them to collection centers. Southeast Asia is the source of over half of the world’s ocean plastic, due to inadequate waste management infrastructure in many emerging economies. But these rapidly developing markets also present huge potential for impact when it comes to the global fight against plastic pollution, and harnessing the informal workforce will be a central part of the solution. While a patchwork of solutions is emerging across Asia, greater collaboration between the public, private and nonprofit sectors can tap into this critical global workforce while also providing opportunities to protect livelihoods for informal workers on a much larger scale. Thuy and her counterparts in other developing countries form a vast network of approximately 20 million workers who contribute to almost 60% of global plastics recycling. Despite the critical role they play, their contributions are often overlooked, and they endure deplorable conditions with inadequate pay, child labor, and health risks. But experience shows us that integrating informal workers, harnessing their specific skills and contributions, can result in more transparent and efficient value chains for recycled plastics in…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Hurricane Helene recently ravaged the southeastern United States, cutting a path of destruction from the Florida coast past the mountains of North Carolina, more than 480 kilometers (300 miles) inland. The inland flooding has been catastrophic, and conservationists worry that the unprecedented storm may push some vulnerable species toward extinction. One of the most locally iconic species of concern is the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). At roughly 0.6 meters (2 feet) long and weighing in at nearly 2.2 kilograms (5 pounds), the hellbender is the largest species of salamander in the Americas. It is entirely aquatic and extremely sensitive to water pollution. “There’s so much contamination in floodwater,” Tierra Curry, endangered species coordinator with the Center for Biological Diversity, told Mongabay during a phone call. “Everything that was on the land can now settle out in the water, including things that are going to cause pollution for a long time, like refrigerators and cars.” Curry said the additional sediment from floodwater is also deadly for hellbenders. They live and breed under large rocks, in crevices that can be filled in with sediment during a flood. She said a storm in Missouri a few years ago crushed some salamanders and washed others downstream where they couldn’t survive. Hellbenders are considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of endangered species, yet they are not currently listed as such under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, largely due to their large range in the eastern U.S. The species lives in cold, clear, running water from…This article was originally published on Mongabay

America’s Endangered Species Act was weakened in 2019 through a series of sweeping changes. In March, previous protections were put back in place, and now a new poll shows conservatives and liberals across the nation overwhelmingly want the next U.S. President and Congress to do even more to protect endangered animals. The new data comes from a biennial survey and offers a stark contrast to the partisan narratives often used to separate Americans – for the Indianapolis Zoological Society, we commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,008 adults throughout the United States with a margin of error of +/- 3% with a confidence level of 95% – which shows that while the nation is certainly divided on many issues, there is encouraging common ground when it comes to wanting the next Administration and the 118th Congress to do more for wild things and wild places. Consider this: nearly four in five (87%) adults in America say that when thinking about the issues they will be voting on in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a candidate’s commitment to animal and environmental conservation is important in their decision. That’s up from 80% when we asked the same question just before the 2020 U.S. presidential election. And sentiment among Republicans spiked the most (14%) over the last four years, going from 68% saying it was important in 2020 to 82% in 2024. The red wolf is the world’s most endangered wolf, but was once common throughout eastern and South Central…This article was originally published on Mongabay