Nature Breaking

Today’s episode celebrates an important milestone: the 10th anniversary of the largest tropical forest conservation program on Earth. It’s called the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program for Life, or ARPA for Life, for short. And since 2014 it has helped provide the resources required to protect 150 million acres of the Brazilian Amazon, an area larger than the state of California. The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, containing about 1 in 10 of all known species. It also stores an abundance of carbon, and regulates regional weather as the moisture from the forest contributes to rainfall in one of the most important agricultural regions in the world. In short, we all have a stake in keeping the Amazon rainforest vibrant and intact. And ARPA for Life is the single biggest initiative attempting to do that. Joining the show today to reflect on 10 years of ARPA for Life is Dr. Mariana Ferreira, Director of Strategy for WWF-Brazil. Mariana shares some of the history behind the creation of ARPA for Life (2:35), how it has endured political challenges presented by changes in the Brazilian government (10:34), and how it has benefitted people, biodiversity, and the climate through its first 10 years (16:41).

LINKS:Dr. Mariana Ferreira bio

ARPA for Life web story

Amazon Rain Forest fact page

Enduring Earth website

Today’s episode is about a piece of legislation currently pending in the US Congress that could make a big difference for global forest conservation: the FOREST Act. This bill would create new requirements and incentives for companies to ensure that the products they import into the US are not associated with illegal deforestation. This matters now more than ever because forests are a critical ally in our global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, and because we’re still losing forests like the Amazon far too quickly. Last year we lost about 10 soccer fields worth of forest every minute. The FOREST Act could help reverse that trend. Today’s episode features a conversation with Stephanie Cappa, WWF’s director for policy and government affairs. You’ll hear Stephanie talk about what’s driving deforestation around the world (2:12), the nuts and bolts of how the FOREST Act would work (9:15) and where it currently stands in Congress (22:20). Stephanie also gives a quick update on some other priority legislation for this year, including the Farm Bill (25:28).

LINKS:

Stephanie Cappa bio

Take Action to Support the FOREST Act

WWF FOREST Act Page

Ahead of Earth Day, today’s episode revisits a topic that we first covered in 2022 on this podcast: plastic pollution. Everyone knows that this issue has become a true crisis around the world. Our current system for recycling and reusing plastic products is broken, and far too much of the plastic we use in our lives ends up in our communities or in our oceans. But there is hope for a brighter future. In March of 2022, the UN Environment Assembly agreed to kick off a process to draft a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, with a goal of finalizing the treaty by 2025. My guest today is Erin Simon, WWF’s vice president for plastic waste and business. Erin has had a front-row seat to this ongoing treaty process, and she’s joining us today to provide an update ahead of the critical next phase: the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which begins on April 23 and is intended to bring the treaty one step closer to being finalized. But first Erin brings listeners up to speed on the current state of the plastic crisis (1:43) and the actions that the US government could take to help (6:56), before breaking down the latest on the UN treaty negotiations (16:17).

LINKS: Erin Simon bio

WWF Plastic Treaty Page

BLOG: Reflections from WWF's Plastic Policy Summit

POLL: 85% of people want a ban on single-use plastics

NOTE: This episode originally ran in September of 2022.

In this episode, Erin Simon, WWF’s head of plastic waste and business, explains the scale of the plastic pollution crisis and why it matters for both people and nature. She dives into the factors driving this crisis (5:42) and discusses how companies and individuals can help address it (9:12). And lastly, Erin breaks down efforts by the United Nations to create a new treaty to address the plastic crisis (18:00).

LINKS:

Erin Simon Bio

WWF’s Plastics Initiative

ReSource Plastic

Today’s episode marks International Day of Forests (March 21) by celebrating the 25th anniversary of a little-known but important US law: the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act, or TFCCA. At its core, the TFCCA was designed to facilitate debt-for-nature swaps, which enable developing countries to restructure the debt they owe to the US in a way that relieves their financial burden in exchange for redirecting a portion of the funds toward conservation. These swaps were conceptualized in the 1980s by Dr. Tom Lovejoy, WWF’s first chief scientist, and proved to be remarkably successful and popular. Today’s episode features a conversation with Esteban Brenes, WWF’s senior director for conservation finance, about the history of debt-for-nature swaps (2:18), how conservation funds get disbursed under the TFCCA (4:25), and some examples of specific debt-for-nature swaps that have delivered results (8:01). Esteban also shares some lessons learned from the last 25 years of implementing this law, and how those lessons can be applied going forward (14:30).

LINKS:

COP28 Event: 25 Years of the TFCCA

2023 Peru Debt Swap Agreement

WWF Statement on 2023 Peru Debt Swap

WWF Statement on 2021 Congressional Reauthorization of the TFCCA

Tom Lovejoy Obituary

This week we’re marking World Wildlife Day by exploring one of the key issues threatening global species: wildlife crime and the sale of wildlife products online. It’s a big problem. Over 15,000 African elephants are killed every year for their ivory. Roughly three rhinos are killed every day in South Africa alone for their horns. And tigers are captured not just to become pets or ticketed attractions; they’re also killed for their fur, claws, and teeth. And all of these products have sadly become widely available through online marketplaces on common websites and social media apps used by millions of people each day. But here’s the good news: many of the tech companies that run those apps and websites have joined forces to put a stop to online wildlife trafficking. They've joined the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. Today you’ll hear from two fantastic guests: Crawford Allan (1:55), WWF’s Senior Director for Wildlife Crime, and Traci Andrighetti (23:40), Global Regulatory Specialist for eBay (a member of the coalition). Their interviews touch on the origins of wildlife crime and how wildlife products become available online, the different industry-wide steps being taken to stop the sale of illegal wildlife products, and how eBay in particular is taking steps to stamp out this practice on its platform.

LINKS:

Crawford Allan Bio

Traci Andrighetti Bio

Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online

Buyer Beware: Shopping Smart to Protect Wildlife & Plants

Exotic Pet Suitability Guide

Report Suspicious Wildlife Sales Online

Food waste is a major contributor to the climate and nature crises. And food date labels are fueling the problem. Right now consumers might see upwards of 50 different terms used on food items: Use By, Sell By, Best By, etc. Confusion caused by this patchwork of terms leads many people to simply throw out food that may still be perfectly good to eat. Congress could help by passing the Food Date Labeling Act (FDLA), which would establish a simple, nationwide framework focused on just two terms: “Best If Used By,” or “Use By.” The bill would also provide clear guidance to consumers about how to interpret those terms. In this episode of the podcast you’ll hear from Pete Pearson, WWF’s Senior Director for Food Loss and Waste. Pete talks about just how big the problem of food waste is, how food date labeling plays into it, and how the FDLA and other federal policy actions could help. 

LINKS:

Pete Pearson Bio

WWF Food Waste Page

Zero Food Waste Coalition

Food Date Labeling Act

NO TIME TO Waste Act

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

What is green hydrogen? In short, it’s hydrogen produced using entirely renewable electricity, which can then be used for industrial processes like creating cement or steel, among other things. That’s important because those industrial processes are currently the third-largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States, after the transportation and electricity sectors. If we can power those processes with green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels, it could go a long way toward helping the US meet its climate goals. But getting there is pretty complicated. On today’s episode, you’ll hear from Cihang Yuan, WWF’s Senior Program Officer for International Corporate Climate Partnerships. Cihang explains why hydrogen is so well suited for industrial settings as well as for heavy-duty transportation (2:30), how green hydrogen is produced (8:53), and how a new series of incentives created by the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law could help bring down the cost of green hydrogen so that it can be more widely deployed in key sectors (15:00).

LINKS:

Send Your Questions to Nature Breaking!

Cihang Yuan bio

Web Story: What is green hydrogen, and how can it help tackle the climate crisis?

Blog: Decoding Treasury's Proposed Guidance for the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit

Renewable Thermal Collaborative

Namibia is an incredibly diverse place in southwestern Africa. It encompasses everything from coastal ecosystems, to savannahs, to floodplains and deserts. And Namibia is home to over 2.5 million people, and an incredible array of wildlife, from cheetahs, to elephants, to impalas, and rhinos. Aside from all that incredible biodiversity, one thing that makes Namibia stand out is its community-led approach to conservation. For nearly three decades, Namibians have been forming and leading communal conservancies, which are areas devoted to the protection of species and ecosystems, but which also enable the people in those areas to derive a livelihood from the protection of nature – primarily via tourism. In this episode you’ll hear from Siphiwe Lutibezi, communications manager for WWF Namibia. Siphiwe talks about the history of Namibia’s communal conservancies and what makes them successful (4:55), how the conservancies have contributed to the recovery of rhino populations (10:12), how WWF Namibia is engaging local youth to participate in conservation projects (17:47), and what a new initiative called Namibia for Life means for the future of conservation in the region (23:35).

LINKS:

WWF Namibia homepage

WWF Magazine Feature: Sharing Space – Communities Lead the Way to a New Era of Landscape-Scale Conservation

WWF Magazine Short: Moving Forward

Over the holidays we passed an important milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This bill was signed into law by President Nixon on December 28, 1973. Over the last 50 years the ESA has proved a remarkable success, with 99% of the species covered by the Act avoiding extinction. To mark this occasion, WWF’s Leigh Henry joins the podcast to talk about the circumstances that led to the passage of the ESA back in 1973 (1:21), how the law actually works in practice (4:42), and how the law has been utilized to save species like the bald eagle and the black-footed ferret here in the US (10:51). She also explains how the ESA helps to protect species in other countries, from tigers to giant pandas (16:55). 

LINKS:

Web Story: Celebrating 50 Years of the Endangered Species Act

Leigh Henry Bio

For the last 12 days world leaders have convened in Dubai for COP28, the critically important UN climate summit. Important progress has been achieved on some issues, but negotiations have been more difficult in other areas, including on finalizing the Global Stocktake and determining whether it will include language about the need to “phase out” fossil fuels. As COP28 winds to a close this week, we spoke to Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF International’s Global Lead for Climate and Energy. In addition to spearheading WWF’s global climate work, Manuel also previously served as the president of COP20 back in 2014. In this interview Manuel talks about what it takes to put on a successful climate summit (2:30), what COP28 has achieved so far (6:45), and the state of play on the negotiations heading into the closing days (11:45).

LINKS:

Make a Year-End Donation to WWF

WWF at COP28

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal bio

COP28 kicks off on November 30 in Dubai – that’s the annual UN summit where national governments come together to assess global climate efforts. Today’s episode is a two-part preview for this year’s summit. In Part 1, you’ll hear from Liz Georges, WWF’s senior director for climate communications. Liz is going to tell us what it’s like to be at a COP (2:15) and break down the top 5 issues and activities that we’ll be watching heading into Dubai (8:35). Then, in Part 2, you’ll hear from Shaun Martin, WWF’s vice president for climate change adaptation, about ManglarIA, an exciting new initiative that WWF will be showcasing at COP28 aimed at deploying AI to protect and restore mangroves (25:45).

LINKS:

COP28 Website

WWF at COP28

WWF-BCG Report: Building a Nature-Postive Energy Transformation

America is All In

Local Climate Action Summit

ManglarIA web story

Liz Georges bio

Shaun Martin bio

The term “blue foods” refers to any food that comes from an aquatic source – whether that be the ocean, a river, or the like. These foods represent a staple for the diets of billions of people around the globe. Blue foods also matter against the backdrop of climate change because they produce far fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to land-based food production. But in some situations, harvesting blue foods can upset delicate marine ecosystems. And, as global stocks of sought-after food items like tuna and cod become more scarce, we’ve increasingly seen competition for blue foods lead to conflicts between nations. In short, as much as we need blue foods to serve as a low-emissions food source for Earth’s growing population, we also need to root out practices that harm freshwater and marine ecosystems, and global security. Joining the show today to talk about these issues are Johan Bergenas, WWF’s Senior Vice President for Oceans; and Melissa Ho, WWF’s Senior Vice President for Freshwater and Food. You’ll hear Johan and Melissa talk about the role of blue foods in the context of global food systems (1:55), which factors are driving international conflict around blue foods (4:30), and how we can reduce that conflict by improving predictive capabilities (10:42) and scaling up practices like aquaculture to bolster food security (15:12).

LINKS: WWF Food Page

WWF Oceans Page

Oceans Futures Initiative

AquaInvest Platform

Johan Bergenas bio

Melissa Ho bio

Snow leopards are among the hardest animals to find in the wild, both because of how rare they are, and because their coats are adapted to provide camouflage that makes them hard to see against the rugged mountain landscape they call home. That’s why they are sometimes call the “ghosts of the mountain.” With an estimated 4,000-6,500 snow leopards remaining in the wild, conservationists have been working in snow leopard range countries across Asia to build a more stable future for these big cats. And recently, Bhutan reported some good news: the population of snow leopards in that country has increased by nearly 40% since 2016. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dechen Dorji, Senior Director for Asia on WWF’s Wildlife Conservation team. He talks about the many characteristics that make snow leopards unique (5:07), the threats that have caused snow leopard populations to decline (13:01), and what we can learn from Bhutan’s recent success to help snow leopards thrive across all 12 range countries they call home (17:52).

LINKS:

WWF Snow Leopard page

Press Release: Bhutan National Snow Leopard Survey

Dechen Dorji bio

Most of us know the bison as one of the iconic American species. In fact, it’s the official US National Mammal. These animals once numbered in the tens of millions across North America, and they held a sacred place in the lives and traditions of Native Nations across the continent. But by the late 1800s, barely 500 bison remained. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dennis Jorgensen, WWF’s bison program manager; and Monica Rattling Hawk, WWF’s Native Nations liaison. They discuss the history of the Plains bison and its relationship with Native Nations (6:48), the threats that drove bison to the brink (11:35), and the work WWF and many others are still engaged in today to ensure that the bison have a vibrant future (16:15). Be sure to stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special message from Ken Burns about his new documentary, “The American Buffalo,” which premiered on PBS this week (33:03).

LINKS:

WWF bison page

Story & Video: 100 Bison Find a New Home with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Dennis Jorgensen Bio

Monica Rattling Hawk Bio

The American Buffalo, a film by Ken Burns

Much of the climate progress we’ve secured in the last few years has been spurred by the urgent calls to action from young people who are already living with the consequences of decisions that were made by older generations. For this episode, we spoke with one person who has been at the forefront of youth climate organizing and activism. Alexia Leclercq is the winner of WWF’s 2022 Conservation Leadership Award, which is given out annually to recognize exceptional young leaders in the environmental space. Alexia is a grassroots organizer, educator, scholar, and artist who recently received a graduate degree from Harvard University. They co-founded the Colorado River Conservancy in 2020 to protect the stretch of that river that runs along their hometown of East Austin, Texas. And they co-lead Start:Empowerment, a non-profit that aims to bolster climate justice education. In this episode Alexia talks about what motivated them to become involved in the climate movement (1:48), the importance of organizing as a tool to build “people power” (9:20), and their advice for the next generation of climate leaders (17:45).

LINKS:

2022 Conservation Leadership Award Announcement: Alexia Leclercq

WWF Magazine: “Activist Alexia Leclercq is changing how—and what—students learn about climate change”

Alexia Leclercq homepage

2023 Conservation Leadership Award Announcement: Charitie Ropati

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the NEST Climate Campus in New York, where WWF hosted two days of programming for Climate Week NYC – an annual showcase for the latest in climate policy and activism on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. Our guests for this special event were Sheila Bonini, WWF’s Senior Vice President for Private Sector Engagement, and James McCall, Chief Sustainability Officer for HP Inc. Sheila and James spoke about how companies can complement the work of governments to address the global climate and nature crises (6:23), how WWF and HP are working together to protect and restore forest ecosystems in critical areas around the world (15:05), and what’s surprised them most about partnering with each other on these issues (27:53).

LINKS:

WWF & HP Partnership Page

James McCall Bio

Sheila Bonini Bio

NEST Climate Campus

Climate Week NYC

YouTube Livestream Recording

 

September 5 is World Amazon Day, and we’re celebrating with an episode about the many things that make the Amazon rain forest so special. For example, did you know that the Amazon is the largest rain forest in the world? It covers an area nearly the size of the entire continental United States, and it’s home to about one in 10 known species on Earth. It also helps stabilize the local and global climate. But it also faces challenges from deforestation, climate change, and more. In this episode, you’ll hear from Dr. Meg Symington, WWF’s vice president for the Amazon. Meg talks about how she first fell in love with the rain forest (2:30), why the Amazon matters so much to both local communities and the world at large (4:18), the many threats it faces (7:00), and what solutions are needed to keep it intact for future generations (13:27). Later, for our Supporters Sound Off segment, you’ll hear from Marianne Spindel, a WWF Hero from Florida, about what inspires her passion for nature (24:55).

LINKS:

Register for our LIVE podcast in New York

Thomas Lovejoy Science for Nature Symposium

WWF Amazon Page

Meg Symington Bio

Become a WWF Hero

The last 12 months or so have been marked, in part, by the emergence of Artificial Intelligence as a mainstream tool. But did you know that AI has been helping with conservation projects for years? This episode features a conversation with Dave Thau, WWF’s Global Data and Technology Lead Scientist. Dave has years of experience using AI to help make sense of different data inputs that are important for monitoring the health of species and ecosystems. You’ll hear Dave talk about how AI is being used to combat deforestation and reduce poaching (3:54), some of the potential risks that come along with applying AI to conservation projects (13:45), and his vision for how AI could one day help to establish a Global Environmental Management System that leverages local-level data to paint a global picture of environmental health (15:50). Last, Dave fields a question from ChatGPT itself (24:50).

LINKS:

Register for our LIVE podcast in NYC!

Medium Blog Series: “G.AI.A - Nature and Artificial Intelligence”

Dave Thau bio

WWF’s Forest Foresight initiative

Global Forest Watch

Global Fishing Watch

Wildlife Insights

Seaweed is an incredibly versatile product. It’s showing up more and more on our plates in restaurants and at grocery stores. But seaweed can also be used as animal feed for livestock, and it can even be used as an alternative to plastic in packaging. Importantly, seaweed farming requires no land, freshwater, fertilizer, or pesticides. And it also improves the health of surrounding waters while absorbing carbon, meaning it could play an important role in combatting climate change. Today’s episode features a conversation with Bailey Moritz, WWF’s Lead Specialist for Seaweed and Shellfish Farming. Bailey explains the basics of seaweed farming (3:40), the environmental and economic benefits of incorporating seaweed into people’s diets (5:55), and how exactly seaweed can help reduce methane emissions from animals (14:02). She also explains how seaweed helps to absorb carbon pollution (15:50), and discusses the barriers currently preventing seaweed farming from taking off on a bigger scale in North America and Europe (22:30). Finally, in a new segment called Supporters Sound Off, WWF supporter Nina Sparks shares what inspired her passion for the environment (31:12).

LINKS:

WWF Seaweed Page

WWF Heroes Page

BONUS EPISODE: The last few weeks have brought an unprecedented series of extreme weather events. At a global scale, July 4th went down as potentially the warmest day in recorded history. And more locally, communities from Arizona to China have been breaking all-time records for heat. We’ve also seen wildfires in Canada sending smoke into communities from Detroit to Washington, and intense floods inundating areas of Vermont and New York. It’s clear that climate change is fueling a season of extreme weather. Dr. Stephanie Roe, WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Lead Scientist, joins this episode to discuss whether these climate impacts match up with previous scientific projections, the role of El Niño in exacerbating underlying climate conditions, and the steps we need to take to avoid the worst effects of climate change in the future.

LINKS:

WWF’s Climate Page

IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report

Washington Post: “Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink”

POLITICO: “‘We are not prepared’: Disasters spread as climate change strikes”

What’s the best thing you ever received in the mail? Maybe a college admission letter or a card from a loved one? Well, what if you could add farm-fresh vegetables to that short list of favorite deliveries? WWF is piloting a new program to help farmers deliver produce directly to people’s doors through the US Postal Service. It’s called Farmers Post. The goal of the program is to reduce food waste by connecting farmers directly with consumers to sell produce that might otherwise go unused. It’s currently being piloted in Connecticut via Healthy PlanEat, and it will soon come to the Virginia area via 4P Foods. In this episode, Julia Kurnik from WWF’s Markets Institute talks about how she and her colleagues came up with the idea for this program (2:10), how it’s going so far (7:05), and when more people across the US might be able to get fresh foods delivered to their own front doors (21:40).

LINKS:

WWF Magazine: “Farm Fresh”: https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-2023/articles/farm-fresh

Healthy PlanEat (CT residents can sign up now): https://healthyplaneat.com/

4P Foods (Coming soon for VA, DC, and MD residents): https://4pfoods.com/

In recognition of Pride Month and Juneteenth, Charles Sumpter and Jessica Leung join the show to talk about what WWF is doing to strengthen its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They talk about why these issues matter to WWF’s mission (1:35), how the organization’s journey on this front has evolved in recent years (6:25), how a new internship program is building a more diverse pipeline of future conservationists (23:45), and more.

LINKS: WWF’s BRIDGE Internship Program: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/bridge

In the wake of World Ocean Day on June 8, this episode examines worsening global conflict around fisheries, and what we can do to address it. Put simply, huge swaths of the world rely on fishing, either for subsistence or income. And when fish become more scarce due to overfishing, climate disruption, or other factors, it creates an opportunity for conflict. Today’s guest is Sarah Glaser, who leads the Oceans Futures initiative at WWF. The initiative aims to use the best science and predictive technology to provide an early warning system for future marine conflicts, as well as a set of tools to prevent those conflicts. In this conversation Sarah explains some of the basics about illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (3:15), shares how climate change has become an accelerant for high-seas conflict (7:57), and discusses how the Oceans Futures initiative is working to address these issues (12:37). 

LINKS:

Oceans Futures: https://www.oceansfutures.org/

The link between travel and conservation goes back at least to the 1860s, when President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Act, setting aside a large area in California for “public use, resort, and recreation.” But are travel and conservation still compatible? Joining the show to help answer that question is Jim Sano, WWF’s Vice President for Travel, Tourism, and Conservation. You’ll hear Jim talk about how tourism dollars provide essential funding for national parks that help preserve nature (3:30), and how places like Namibia are putting conservation at the center of their tourism economy (6:15). And you’ll also hear Jim’s tips and best practices for sustainable travel (14:35). 

LINKS:

WWF’s Guide to Responsible Travel: https://lp.panda.org/travel  

Perhaps no species on Earth has been more directly associated with climate change than polar bears. As Arctic sea ice melts, the habitat for these bears will continue to shrink. But did you know that polar bear populations have a complicated history? In this episode you’ll hear from Elisabeth Kruger, a manager for Arctic wildlife at WWF-US, about how conservation measures helped polar bears in the 1970s when commercial hunting was their primary threat (2:55), and what the future looks like for polar bears in the face of climate change (5:20). Then you’ll hear from Dr. Micaela Hellstrom, CEO and co-founder of MIX Research in Sweden, who is working with Elisabeth and others at WWF to collect environmental DNA from polar bear footprints in order to learn more about these iconic Arctic dwellers (22:55).

LINKS:

WWF-US Polar Bear Page: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/polar-bear 

WWF Arctic Program Polar Bear Page: https://www.arcticwwf.org/wildlife/polar-bear/ 

Pollination underpins the web of life, helping crops produce food and helping flowers produce seeds. Perhaps no species is more directly associated with the topic of pollination than the European honeybee, but there are actually some 20,000 known species of bee in the world, and nearly 4,000 in North America alone. And pollination doesn’t end with bees. Many other species, from butterflies, to bats and even beetles play critical roles. Unfortunately many of these little helpers are under threat from a range of factors, including habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. In this episode you’ll hear from Clay Bolt, WWF’s Manager of Pollinator Conservation and Communications for the Northern Great Plains Program, about the role that bees and other pollinators play in sustaining natural systems, and the steps we need to take to better protect these species and the services they provide.

LINKS:

WWF Blog: 3 Things You Can Do to Help Your Local Pollinators

Iowa State University Study: “Insecticidal Seed Treatments can Harm Honey Bees”

At WWF, we’re mobilizing around Earth Day this year to raise awareness about the plight of the migratory monarch butterfly – a species known for its beauty as well as its importance as a pollinator. Sadly, migratory monarchs were officially classified as an endangered species in 2022, and last month brought more grim news: the presence of monarch butterflies in their overwinter habitat in Mexico declined by 22% compared to the same time last year. WWF-Mexico’s monarch butterfly expert, Eduardo Rendón-Salinas, joins this episode to talk about what makes migratory monarchs special (3:42), the reasons for their decline (16:44), and how individuals can take action to save them (25:25).

LINKS: 

WWF's Monarch Page: https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/monarch-butterfly

Learn How to Plant Milkweed: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/monarch-milkweed-finder 

Last month Apple TV+ launched a new show called Extrapolations, which portrays a variety of scenarios that could play out in the coming decades if we fail to address climate change. In this special two-part episode, you'll hear first from three people involved in making the show: Scott Z. Burns, the creator and executive producer of Extrapolations; Dorothy Fortenberry, another of the show’s executive producers; and Matthew Rhys, one of the actors starring in the show. They’ll talk about why they chose to tackle the topic of climate change through a scripted drama (1:37), and what they hope the show will inspire viewers to do (15:56). Then, in Part 2, you'll hear a discussion with Marcene Mitchell, Nikhil Advani, and Anita Van Breda from WWF’s Climate team about some of the specific scenarios portrayed in the show, how likely those scenarios actually are, and what the world needs to do to prevent them from becoming a reality (22:12).

LINKS:

Extrapolations Action Page: https://learn.appletvapp.apple/extrapolations

This time of year marks the beginning of the annual appropriations process in Congress. That’s the months-long process through which Congress determines how much money it’s going to allocate for a wide array of federal programs – including those that support global conservation efforts. That’s why, every March, WWF asks our national network of supporters to consider joining us for a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. It’s an opportunity to meet in-person with Members of Congress and their staff, and to let them know why funding for global conservation is important. On this episode you’ll hear from Sara Thomas, WWF’s senior director for integrated marketing and activism, about why WWF began holding this annual “Lobby Day” and what it’s achieved over the years (1:45). Then you’ll hear from two WWF champions who joined us in DC for this year’s event: Lindsey Coffey and Carlo Treviso. Lindsey and Carlo will talk about what motivated them to become advocates for nature (14:42), and what they’ll remember from their day on Capitol Hill (29:06). 

Want to get involved in future WWF advocacy events? Text “WWF Podcast” to 43144 to sign up for news and updates from WWF’s mobile action team.

LINKS:

www.worldwildlife.org/takeaction  

We’re releasing this episode a day early because today, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a major new report offering the most comprehensive accounting of climate science to date. It's the final report in the IPCC's Sixth Assessment series. One of the lead authors of that series, Dr. Stephanie Roe, also serves as WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Lead Scientist. Stephanie joins this episode to explain how this report builds upon other recent climate assessments (1:21) and how the process of developing these reports actually works (3:34). She then shares some key takeaways from this report (5:40), and discusses whether a stable climate future is still achievable (12:40).

LINKS:

IPCC Synthesis Report of the 6th Assessment Cycle

To mark International Women’s Day, this week’s episode focuses on an exciting new initiative that WWF is involved with to advance women- and community-led solutions to climate challenges. It’s an outgrowth of an alliance that WWF has with CARE, the global development organization that works to address poverty and hunger, with a focus on gender equality. Hear from Cheryl Margoluis, Executive Director of the CARE-WWF Alliance, about how these two organizations first came together (1:33), why the Alliance decided to put women and girls at the center of their work (8:18), and how its latest initiative, Sowing Change, aims to help establish women-led livelihoods that also contribute to local climate solutions (10:52).

LINKS:

CARE-WWF Alliance home page

Sowing Change concept paper

This year the U.S. Congress is due to reauthorize the Farm Bill. This bill is the primary vehicle for setting food and agricultural policy in the United States. That means it’s also a huge opportunity to advance conservation policies, because food systems account for about one-third of global emissions and are a leading cause of deforestation, land conversion, and biodiversity loss. In this episode, Suzy Friedman, WWF’s senior director for food policy, talks about the history of the Farm Bill (1:40), and how this year’s version could strengthen policies that incentivize conservation of important ecosystems (6:25), reduce food loss and waste (14:55), and more.

LINKS:

WWF’s Farm Bill Page

BLOG: 2023 Farm Bill: An Opportunity for Food and Farm Security

Three-quarters of the infrastructure expected to exist by 2050 hasn’t even been built yet. That means that the way we build infrastructure – where it goes, what it’s made of, and which energy sources it facilitates – will have a huge impact on the world’s ability to meet global climate and biodiversity goals. In this episode, Kate Newman, WWF’s vice president for sustainable infrastructure, breaks down the challenges and opportunities that infrastructure development will bring in the coming decades (6:10), how the UN’s new Global Biodiversity Framework could help incentivize sustainable infrastructure (19:57), and how the expansion of clean energy intersects with these issues (25:10).

LINKS:

WWF Infrastructure Page

ALIGN Project Page

Infrastructure and Nature Coalition

Last October, Alaskan officials canceled the snow crab harvest for the first time in history, after the population dropped nearly 90% between 2018 and 2021. In this episode, Steve MacLean from WWF’s US Arctic Program explains how warmer ocean conditions likely contributed to the disappearance of these crabs (2:40), and what a changing climate might mean for future crab harvests (6:20). Steve also shares the latest on efforts to block the development of the Pebble Mine, a proposed gold and copper mine that could threaten Alaska’s iconic salmon fishery (11:28). Last, Steve shares how he and his colleagues are working to manage shipping traffic in the Bering Strait as Arctic sea ice melts and opens up new passages (21:40).

LINKS:

WWF US Arctic Page

WEB STORY: The end of the road for Pebble Mine

Whether it’s wild elephants consuming a village’s crops, or a racoon getting into a household’s trash, human-wildlife conflict is present everywhere and can lead to significant challenges. In this episode, Nilanga Jayasinghe talks about the different kinds of human-wildlife conflict that impact different regions (4:45), and explains how climate change can make those conflicts more frequent (13:44). She then shares strategies to help better manage human-wildlife conflict to protect people, animals, and livelihoods (15:20).

LINKS:

REPORT: A Future for All: The need for human-wildlife coexistence

WWF Magazine: Close Quarters

Explainer: What is human-wildlife conflict?

As 2022 draws to a close, this episode features four voices from WWF’s Media & External Affairs team sharing some of their favorite environmental news stories and initiatives from 2022. You’ll hear from Sarah Fogel about efforts to save black-footed ferrets in Montana (1:13), Lorin Hancock about a new way to address both food waste and food scarcity by connecting consumers directly with farmers (7:10), Monica Echeverria about the latest population survey of monarch butterflies (10:40), and Jenna Bonello about how poets are lending their voices to inspire hope for the future of nature (20:41).

LINKS: WWF Black Footed Ferrets Page

Sustainability Works Blog on Farmers Post

WWF Monarch Butterfly Page

WWF en Español (Descubre WWF)

Poetry for the Planet

Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, this episode features a conversation with Alex Nichols-Vinueza, WWF’s program manager for food loss and waste. Alex explains how our food system ends up wasting an estimated 40% of food produced globally (1:20). He then talks about how this problem manifests on Thanksgiving (8:07), and shares some simple steps that people can take to prevent food from going to waste during the holidays (9:04). Last, Alex talks about how schools and businesses can be partners in limiting food waste (11:52), and how changes in federal policies could drive nationwide improvements (15:30).

LINKS:

Blog: Serving Up Tips for a Waste-Free Thanksgiving

Act: Tell Congress to Pass the Zero Food Waste Act

Food Waste Warriors: Help Your Local School Join This WWF Initiative

Further Listening: NPR’s Planet Money on Food Date Labeling

In this wake of this week’s US election, this episode features a conversation with Will Gartshore, WWF’s senior director for policy and government affairs. Will reflects on the progress made on environmental policy over the last two years (2:00), from re-joining the Paris Agreement to the passage of historic new investments to address the climate crisis. Will then outlines what’s left on the to-do list of the current Congress (8:53), and what environmental policies might stand a chance of moving forward over the next two years (15:25).

LINKS: WWF Action Team: Help Support WWF’s Policy Priorities

COP27, the UN’s annual climate summit, begins on November 6 in Egypt. This two-part episode explains everything you need to know before the summit kicks off. In Part 1, Stephanie Roe, WWF’s global climate and energy lead scientist, provides an overview of the latest climate science (1:54) and explains how three recent reports could influence negotiations at COP27 (14:49). Then, Marcene Mitchell, WWF’s senior vice president for climate change, walks through the specific agenda for COP27 (18:25) and explains why the US is poised to drive even bolder climate action at this year’s summit (29:56).

LINKS: IPCC Sixth Assessment Reports

Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Science Based Target Setting Guidance

WWF’s Climate Page

BONUS EPISODE: Every two years WWF releases its flagship Living Planet Report, which monitors populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish around the world. The latest version of this report was released last week, and found an average decline of 69% in species populations since 1970. To help explain this finding and dive deeper into the report, we’re joined this week by Rebecca Shaw, WWF’s chief scientist. She explains what exactly the report measures and why it matters (2:15), the links between climate change and nature loss (5:51), which ecosystems and regions are fairing the worst (9:10), and how individuals can take action to bend the curve on both the loss of species and climate change (19:15).

LINKS:

Living Planet Report 2022

This year marks the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Lunar calendar. To mark this occasion, Ginette Hemley, WWF’s senior vice president for wildlife conservation, joins the show to talk about the global effort to protect wild tigers. Ginette touches on the current state of wild tiger populations (1:55), why protecting tigers matters to nature writ-large (4:52), what we’ve learned from a 12-year global initiative to double tiger numbers (9:38), and how people in the US can help make a difference (16:30).

LINKS:

WWF Action Center: Support the Big Cat Public Safety Act

WWF’s Tiger Fact Page

Op-Ed: On Global Tiger Day, Nepal notes milestone (Asia Times)

This year has brought another set of reminders about the risks of flooding in a warming world. Communities from Wyoming to Kentucky to Pakistan have faced the terrible consequences that floods can bring. In this episode, Jeff Opperman, WWF's global lead scientist for freshwater, breaks down the science behind what's driving more frequent and severe floods (2:32), explains how floodplains can play a role in helping communities limit the harm from future floods (4:30), and shares examples of communities that have led the way in embracing floodplains as nature-based solutions (8:15).

LINKS:

WWF's Rivers of Food page: https://rivers-of-food.panda.org/

America Adapts Episode on Flooding (deeper dive featuring Jeff and several other WWF experts): https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/2018/10/6/flooding-and-natural-and-nature-based-solutions 

Report: Waterways to Resilience: https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/waterways_to_resilience_naturebased_solutions_wwfabinbev.pdf 

This week, Erin Simon, WWF’s head of plastic waste and business, explains the scale of the plastic pollution crisis and why it matters for both people and nature (1:54). She dives into the factors driving this crisis (4:35) and discusses how companies and individuals can help address it (8:05). And lastly, Erin breaks down efforts by the United Nations to create a new treaty to address the plastic crisis (17:00).

LINKS:

WWF’s Plastics Initiative: https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/plastics

ReSource Plastic: https://resource-plastic.com/

This week, Anita van Breda, WWF’s senior director of environment and disaster management, joins the podcast to talk about how the impacts of climate change are driving more intense and destructive hurricanes (1:48). She shares insights about how communities can reduce risk to hurricanes and other disasters (3:41) and what factors they should consider when building back after extreme weather events (9:05). She also shares her experience working with communities harmed by wildfires, and what communities in the path of potential fires should be thinking about (17:18).

LINKS:

WWF’s Environment and Disaster Management Program: https://envirodm.org/

In this episode, Craig Beatty, WWF’s manager of forest strategy and research, talks about how forests can help deliver health benefits to people by limiting the spread of diseases (3:50), regulating heat (7:40), and more. He also shares some steps governments and other actors can take to help keep forests intact (13:30).

LINKS:

Vitality of Forests Report: https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/the-vitality-of-forests-illustrating-the-evidence-connecting-forests-and-human-health

WWF Forests Page: https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/forests

Hear a preview of what's to come in this new bi-weekly podcast focused on the news and trends affecting our natural world. Nature: Breaking will help listeners make sense of today’s environmental headlines by showcasing the incredible array of experts at WWF. You'll hear from scientists focused on climate change, oceans, rivers, and wildlife, as well as engineers, technical advisers, and field conservationists working with Indigenous communities, businesses, and other stakeholders to keep nature intact.

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “What’s a Climate COP?” or, “why does it seem like floods are getting worse and worse,” then this is the podcast for you. We hope you'll tune in!