For more than three decades, Dr. Ralph Chami has worked at the highest levels of global finance, advising governments on economic policy, financial markets, and development. A former Assistant Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and recipient of the IMF’s Operational Excellence Award, his career has spanned financial crises,
A sweeping move by U.S. President Donald Trump to reopen vast stretches of previously protected Pacific waters to commercial fishing has reignited a fierce debate over marine conservation, economic development, and the rights of Pacific communities whose cultural and ecological futures are deeply intertwined with the ocean. The new proclamation
BRUSSELS — In an era defined by economic uncertainty, geopolitical competition, and escalating climate impacts, the European Union is making an increasingly bold argument: investing in nature is not environmental philanthropy—it is one of the smartest economic investments Europe can make. At this year’s EU Green Week in Brussels, policymakers,
LONDON — In a landmark development for sustainable finance, Ecobank Group has launched what it describes as the world’s first International Capital Market Association (ICMA)-aligned Nature Bond issued by a commercial bank, raising $450 million to support biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture, and water infrastructure across Africa. The bond, listed on
After decades of destruction, one of the world’s most important ecosystems is showing signs of recovery—offering hope for climate resilience, biodiversity, and coastal communities. Mangrove forests—often called the world’s “coastal guardians”—are beginning to rebound after years of decline, according to recent BBC reporting. The recovery marks a rare environmental success
A new milestone in nature finance is reshaping how governments, investors, and conservation leaders think about restoring ecosystems. Finance Earth has announced a £64.6 million first close (~$87 million USD) for the Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF), surpassing its initial £50 million target (~$67 million USD) and creating one of
Artificial intelligence is often described as a digital revolution. But a major new report released this week by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) argues that AI is increasingly becoming a physical one—with profound implications for energy systems, water resources, land use, and climate goals
Scientists Warn That U.S. Government Cuts to Ocean Monitoring Could Blind the World to Climate Change The world’s ability to monitor the health of the oceans—and understand some of the most profound changes occurring on the planet—may be entering a period of uncertainty. According to reporting by The New York
At a time when governments, courts, and communities around the world are grappling with accelerating biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate disruption, Callie Veelenturf is advancing a bold idea that could fundamentally reshape humanity’s relationship with the natural world: Nature has inherent rights. Callie Veelenturf is a marine conservation biologist,
A new presidency of the region’s top environmental forum signals a shift from declarations to delivery— backed by forests, finance reform, and institutional overhaul Panama is attempting something ambitious: transforming one of the world’s longest-running regional environmental forums from a platform of dialogue into an engine for measurable results. At
