Environmental Engineering Climate Solutions

We’re planting trees — but losing biodiversity. Global efforts to restore forests are gathering pace, driven by promises of combating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and improving livelihoods. Yet a recent paper published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity warns that the biodiversity gains from these initiatives are often overstated — and sometimes absent altogether. Forest restoration is at the heart of Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to place 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030. But the gap between ambition and outcome is wide. "Biodiversity will remain a vague buzzword rather than an actual outcome" unless projects explicitly prioritize it, the authors caution. Restoration has typically prioritized utilitarian goals such as timber production, carbon sequestration, or erosion control. This bias is reflected in the widespread use of monoculture plantations or low-diversity agroforests. Nearly half of the Bonn Challenge’s forest commitments consist of commercial plantations of exotic species — a trend that risks undermining biodiversity rather than enhancing it. Scientific evidence shows that restoring biodiversity requires more than planting trees. Methods like natural regeneration — allowing forests to recover on their own — can often yield superior biodiversity outcomes, though they face social and economic barriers. By contrast, planting a few fast-growing species may sequester carbon quickly but offers little for threatened plants and animals. Biodiversity recovery is influenced by many factors: the intensity of prior land use, the surrounding landscape, and the species chosen for restoration. Recovery is slow — often measured in decades — and tends to lag for rare and specialist species. Alarmingly, most projects stop monitoring after just a few years, long before ecosystems stabilize. However, the authors say there are reasons for optimism. Biodiversity markets, including emerging biodiversity credit schemes and carbon credits with biodiversity safeguards, could mobilize new financing. Meanwhile, technologies like environmental DNA sampling, bioacoustics, and remote sensing promise to improve monitoring at scale. To turn good intentions into reality, the paper argues, projects must define explicit biodiversity goals, select suitable methods, and commit to long-term monitoring. Social equity must also be central. "Improving biodiversity outcomes of forest restoration… could contribute to mitigating power asymmetries and inequalities," the authors write, citing examples from Madagascar and Brazil. If designed well, forest restoration could help address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. But without a deliberate shift, billions of dollars risk being spent on projects that plant trees — and little else. 🔬 Brancalion et al (2025): https://lnkd.in/gG6X36WP

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 – 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🇪🇺 I recently shared a collection of open-access tools to assess climate and nature-related risks in Germany. Now, here’s a structured list covering the whole of Europe. It brings together: 🏛️ The relevant political regulations and strategies 🗂️ Frameworks for climate risk assessment aligned with these regulations 📚 Key resource hubs and EU-funded projects on climate risk ⛈️ The best reports on climate risk in Europe 📊 A methodology for cost-benefit analysis of climate adaptation measures 🗺️ Leading geospatial tools for mapping and monitoring climate- and nature-related risks. ❗The list is structured along the steps of a climate risk assessment and the relevant hazards to cover: flood, drought, wildfire, ecosystem degradation, ... For geospatial tools, I included only the strongest solutions available. But since the scope is European-wide, their precision is limited. To delve deeper into the matter, I’ve included key practical frameworks, EU resource hubs, and more. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭? Please comment below, and I’ll send it to you. (If you prefer to DM me, that works too.)

4 months into my first sustainability job, and I can't believe more companies aren't doing life cycle analysis. I regularly analyse products from start to finish - raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use, and disposal. The insights are eye-opening. Here's what I've learned: Life cycle analysis reveals hidden environmental impacts that companies frequently miss. It can identify cost-saving opportunities and carbon emission hotspots that often go unnoticed. It helps create better products that customers actually want! On the surface, the process isn't complicated: 1. Collect data from supplier/manufacturer 2. Input materials, processes and waste management 3. Analyse and understand impact categories 4. Find improvement opportunities 5. Implement changes Small changes make big differences. One of our recent projects reduced water usage by over 90% AND decreased CO2 by over 50% just by changing the material (yes, I couldn’t believe it either). Don't wait for regulations to force your hand. Start analysing your products now. The data is there, the methods are proven, and the benefits are clear.

📊 Check out the Sustainability Risk Tool Dashboard! Over 100 tools to compare across climate, transition, and nature risks! As a climate leader who sees firsthand how quickly the risk landscape is shifting, I know how valuable it is for financial institutions to use the right tools.  That’s why I find the dashboard from United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Risk Centre so useful. In my time leading the Risk Programme, I was proud to begin work on the climate risk dashboard, which has grown into the sustainability tool dashboard. This open-access resource offers an overview of more than 100 tools, detailing their features, methodologies and use cases across climate risks, nature and biodiversity, pollution and social risks.  Updated quarterly, it now incorporates insights from UNEP FI’s Climate Risk Landscape Report, giving financial institutions a clearer and more integrated view of the evolving risk tools market. Key functionality includes:  🧩 Classification by risk type to support comparability  🏭 Sectoral coverage from energy to real estate, agriculture and more  📈 Side-by-side comparison to help identify gaps and choose the right tools  🔎 Searchable database of tool descriptions and solutions for targeted use  🌐 Coverage of cross-cutting themes such as biodiversity, water and carbon for holistic assessments Explore the Dashboard here: https://lnkd.in/ebivVmEH  What challenges are you facing in finding the right risk tools? And which ones have been most useful? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Japan Surprises the World with a New Engine That Runs on Neither Electricity nor Hydrogen In what might be one of the most innovative engineering breakthroughs of recent years, Toyota Motor Corporation has unveiled plans for a revolutionary engine that runs on ammonia rather than traditional fossil fuels, electricity, or hydrogen. This cutting-edge development promises to slash harmful emissions by an impressive 90% while maintaining peak performance even in freezing temperatures. The automotive giant’s announcement signals a potential paradigm shift in how we think about the future of transportation and alternative fuel sources. With this ammonia-powered combustion engine, Toyota aims to offer a practical solution to reduce our carbon footprint without sacrificing reliability or performance. What makes ammonia engines different? Unlike others, ammonia combustion generates only nitrogen and water vapor. Toyota’s engineers have successfully modified a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to run on ammonia, achieving thermal efficiency and performance levels comparable to traditional gasoline engines. For everyday drivers, this means getting behind the wheel of a vehicle that feels familiar to operate but leaves a drastically smaller environmental footprint. The technology represents a fresh approach in an industry that has primarily focused on battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as alternatives to fuels. Technical aspects of ammonia as fuel Here’s how ammonia compares to gasoline in key areas: .Auto-ignition point: Higher for ammonia than gasoline .Combustion duration: Longer for ammonia .NOx emissions: Moderate for ammonia vs. high for gasoline .Environmental impact: Minimal for ammonia vs. substantial for gasoline Why ammonia might overtake hydrogen While hydrogen has long been touted as the fuel of the future, its widespread adoption faces major hurdles. The high costs associated with hydrogen production, storage, and distribution have limited its practical application. The lack of refueling infrastructure remains a significant barrier for many regions across the Eurozone. Real-world implications for European drivers .Cost less to operate than current EVs .Don’t suffer from range anxiety .Work reliably in cold .Refuel quickly like traditional gas vehicles .Dramatically reduce your carbon footprint What this means for the future of driving If Toyota’s ammonia engine lives up to its promise, we could witness a dramatic reduction in dependence on fossil fuels across the automotive landscape. As automakers worldwide face increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, innovations like this demonstrate that multiple pathways exist toward a greener automotive future. Whether ammonia, H2, or battery electric technology ultimately dominates remains to be seen, but Toyota’s latest breakthrough adds an exciting new option to the mix. #AmmoniaEnging #ToyotaInnovation #FutureOfMobility #GreenEngineering #BeyondEVs #CarbonNeutralTech

6-Step Methodology for Climate Risk Assessment 🌎 Addressing climate-related risks is increasingly essential as extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and ecosystem disruptions become more frequent and severe. Effective Climate Risk Management (CRM) equips governments, organizations, and communities with the tools to anticipate, prepare for, and mitigate these impacts. A structured approach to climate risk assessment not only identifies vulnerabilities but also informs proactive measures that protect lives, livelihoods, and essential infrastructure. The GP L&D’s 6-step methodology offers a practical, systematic framework for understanding and addressing climate risks, integrating these insights into public policies and investment decisions to build resilience and promote sustainable development. The first step in this methodology is to analyze the current status to determine information needs and set specific objectives. Establishing a clear baseline of vulnerabilities helps ensure that the entire process remains aligned with the climate resilience goals set out from the start. From here, a hotspot and capacity analysis is conducted, identifying regions and systems most exposed to climate risks—such as droughts or floods—and evaluating the local capacity to respond. This targeted analysis allows for efficient resource allocation by pinpointing areas of highest priority. The methodology then adapts to local contexts by developing a tailored approach that reflects unique socio-economic and environmental factors. This customization enhances the relevance and accuracy of the risk assessment, making it more actionable and specific to each setting. Following this, a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted, using both qualitative and quantitative measures to capture the full range of potential impacts. This dual assessment provides a complete understanding of direct impacts, such as infrastructure damage, and indirect consequences, like disruptions to livelihoods. An evaluation of risk tolerance follows, defining acceptable levels of risk and helping prioritize the most urgent interventions. This clarity on risk thresholds ensures that resources are directed to where they are most needed. Finally, the methodology identifies feasible, cost-effective measures to mitigate, adapt to, or prevent potential losses and damages. This step aligns recommended actions with budget and policy constraints, ensuring that interventions are practical and impactful. By adopting this structured approach, decision-makers can better manage climate risks, develop adaptive strategies, and enhance resilience tailored to local needs and resources. Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction

🌿 Transforming 2 Billion Acres of Wasteland with Seawater Agriculture 🌊 Did you know there are over 2 billion acres of salty wasteland across the planet that could be turned into productive farmland without using a single drop of fresh water? Welcome to the incredible world of regenerative seawater agriculture. By using rare plants that thrive in saltwater, we can unlock a huge supply of ocean wetlands for farming, biodiversity recovery and carbon capture. Meet Yanik Nyberg from Seawater Solutions who is pioneering a 4,500-acre site in southern Spain's Guadalquivir River delta with this innovative farming technique. In just 2 weeks of filling their lagoons, they’re already seeing flamingos and expect biodiversity to increase by 1,000% in the next 12 months! 🦩 💧 Introducing Saline Agroecology: Saline agroecology combines ecosystem restoration with farming, using degraded land, specialised plants and saltwater. There are over 3,000 plant species called 'Halophytes' that can grow in saltwater and can be used in a multitude of ways: 🌽 Animal feed (stems & tips) 🥗 High-quality vegetables from green tips 🌿 Carbon sequestration (through root storage) ⛽️ High-value cooking oil and biofuel from the seeds 🏠 Woody stems used in building materials like fibreboard 🔎 3 Key Benefits of Halophyte Plants: 1. Halophytes provide 30+ tonnes of yield per hectare annually, significantly more than traditional crops like barley or wheat (5-7 tonnes/hectare). 2. Perennial yields mean the above ground biomass can be harvested 3 to 4 times a year as the roots stay in the ground and the vegetation quickly regrows. 3. No fertilisers or pesticides needed, seawater acts as a natural fertiliser and pesticide, making farming easier and more sustainable. 🌍 The potential is enormous: 900 million hectares of degraded land worldwide can be converted using this approach, enhancing global food security and biodiversity. By using seawater, they've unlocked an abundant resource that could revolutionise agriculture and help combat fresh water scarcity, one of the biggest challenges we have in global farming. 🐦 Ecological Significance: Restoring coastal wetlands worldwide is critical. Bird migration routes fly over river deltas, coastal wetlands and inland lakes. Enhancing these habitats, agricultural restoration projects weave together many ecosystems. The Guadalquivir marshes are crucial for breeding birds from South Africa, Namibia, Mauritania, and Senegal, and for wintering birds like cranes, black storks and ospreys from northern Europe. This could be one of the most important innovations in modern agriculture. A whole new part of the planet has now been opened up for climate and nature impact. If you are a business looking to support large-scale regenerative seawater agriculture projects, Earthly would love to help so please do drop us a line! (🎬 Credit: Andrew Millison) #SeawaterAgriculture #Halophytes #RegenerativeFarming

The Biohub concept is a critical part of Scion's Integrated Bioenergy and Distributed and Circular Manufacturing Portfolios. Biohubs are increasingly becoming key enablers for the cost-effective and efficient mobilization of waste bioresources such as agricultural and forest residues. As biohubs move from concept to reality, there is a need to develop a systematic approach to assess their environmental impact. Biohubs are increasingly seen as essential to the cost-effective deployment of bioenergy at scale for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like heavy-duty vehicles and heat. The term biohub refers to an intermediate place where farmers/growers can deliver their by-products such as straw and residues to be processed into products that have higher quality and value along the supply chain. Check out this IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme report "Environmental sustainability studies of biohub archetypes" - presenting results of environmental sustainability analysis for three sample biohub archetypes: 📌 Biohub-1 converts post-harvest agricultural residues such as cereal and soy straw in Croatia to solid fuel pellets for remote domestic heating. 📌 Biohub-2 converts forest residue in Ireland via a gasification pathway to bio-CNG to fuel Irish timber truck fleets. 📌 Biohub-3 converts forest residue, also in Ireland, via pyrolysis to crude bio-oil which is co-processed in an oil refinery to produce lower-carbon diesel. #industrialsymbiosis #biomaterials #bioenergy #forestry #agriculture #bioeconomy #circulareconomy #circularbioeconomy #emissionsreduction #sustainablefuture #greenhousegas #greenhousegasemissions #sustainability #biorefinery #biomanufacturing

The devastating 2023 #floods in Sikkim, India, underscore the urgent challenge to safeguard critical infrastructure like #hydropower from cascading #climaterisks A new study in Science confirms that #climatechange played a key role in triggering a glacial lake outburst flood (#GLOF)—an event that wiped out the 1,200MW Teesta-III hydropower dam, caused 55 fatalities, and led to widespread destruction across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. With 650+ hydropower projects planned or under construction in high-mountain Asia, this disaster signals a pressing need for resilience in climate-vulnerable regions. The study warns that “even the most comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies” cannot entirely prevent future loss and damage. 💡 What needs to be done? ✅ Early-warning systems tailored for glacial hazards. ✅ Stringent risk assessments before developing infrastructure in hazard-prone zones. ✅ Stronger regional cooperation among river-sharing countries. ✅ Adaptive design standards for hydropower projects to withstand extreme events. 🌍 we must ensure hydropower is built to last in a changing #climate. https://lnkd.in/gPABn2mA