While significant, the economic toll was lower compared to the same period last year, when extreme weather events racked up more than 93 billion yuan (US$12.9 billion) in economic losses.

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Natural disasters in China affected over 23 million people and resulted in direct economic losses of 54.11 billion yuan (US$7.55 billion) in the first half of 2025, Reuters reported on Tuesday citing official data from the emergency response ministry.

307 people were reportedly dead or missing and 620,000 faced emergency evacuation as a result of earthquakes, landslides and flooding, Shen Zhanli, a ministry’s spokesperson, told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. The latter accounted for 90% of the total economic damage – some 51 billion yuan – and nearly a third of the total deaths. Droughts, hailstorms and localized forest fires also affected the country.

347,200 houses were damaged and nearly 30,000 houses were destroyed, 28.7% more compared to the same period last year, while 2.19 million hectares of crops were damaged as a result of natural disasters, Reuters reported.

While significant, the economic toll was notably lower compared to the same period last year, when extreme weather events racked up more than 93 billion yuan (US$12.9 billion) in economic losses.

A national comprehensive natural disaster monitoring and early warning platform is being developed, utilizing predictive assessments and simulation models to track disasters, especially typhoons and floods, Zhanli added. These typically peak between late July and early August, coinciding with China’s main flood season.

Other adaptation and mitigation efforts include improving weather forecast’s accuracy and speed, strengthening remote sensing systems, and deploying drones for real-time disaster assessment, situational analysis, and search-and-rescue operations, ensuring faster and more precise emergency responses.

Climate Change

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the most authoritative scientific body on the subject, human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have led to an increase in both the frequency and intensity of some weather and climate extremes since pre-industrial times.

Climate change is intensifying the water cycle, bringing more intense rainfall and associated flooding. As our climate warms, the most extreme rainfall events have become more frequent and intense across much of the world.

Asia is hit particularly hard by climate change. Last month, the World Meteorological Organiation said the continent is warming at nearly twice the global average rate, intensifying extreme weather events that are “exacting an unacceptably high toll.”

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons.

You might also like: Hong Kong’s Outdoor Workers, Subdivided Flat Tenants Bear the Brunt of Summer Heat

The post Natural Disasters in China Rack Up $7.6bn in Direct Economic Losses in First Half of 2025: Reports appeared first on Earth.Org.

As extreme heat intensifies, Hong Kong’s most vulnerable populations find themselves on the frontlines of a growing climate crisis, highlighting a stark divide between those who can escape the heat and those who cannot.

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Ling Chan, a street cleaner in her 70s, is one of Hong Kong’s thousands of outdoor workers enduring the sweltering summer heat with minimal protection.

She recalled suffering from heatstroke last year – the city’s hottest on record: “Suddenly I felt dizzy. I immediately had to sit down on a bench. I had never sat down before while working, that was the first time,” she told Earth.Org in Cantonese.

Hong Kong broke 35 temperature records in 2024, including the warmest April and first half-year on record. 

With temperatures rising in the city, in line with the global trend, the government in 2023 implemented a three-tier Heat Stress at Work Warning system ranging from amber to red and black, advising employers to provide rest breaks to prevent heatstroke among outdoor workers. 

Under a red or black alert, bar benders and porters are advised to stop work completely, while other outdoor workers should be granted more rest time.

Despite the new system, many workers like Chan often experience heat-related symptoms while working, including tiredness, thirst, headaches, dizziness, rises in body temperature and nausea.

The street cleaner told Earth.Org that she rarely takes breaks, fearing she will be reported for “looking unprofessional” – a sentiment echoed by other outdoor workers across the city interviewed by Earth.Org.

Seeking shade in a back alley with a portable fan near a garbage collection point in Tsuen Wan, a cleaner surnamed Yu said workers often do not have anywhere to hide from the heat.

“The weather is too hot to bear. Even taking a breath is difficult, let alone working. The exhaust in the back alley is terrible – there’s air conditioner exhaust and the oily fumes from the cha chaan tengs [Hong Kong-style cafes],” he told Earth.Org in Cantonese.

On July 8, Hong Kong recorded its hottest Xiaoshu since 1884, with temperatures reaching 34.3C. Xiaoshu, the 11th solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, marks the start of summer’s hottest period. But heat has been persisting for longer, with the city’s Observatory issuing the earliest “Very Hot Weather” Warning on record on April 15.

A food delivery worker surnamed Ng reported experiencing heat rash and skin peeling from sun exposure. “When you go out at noon, it’s easy to get sunburned because your body isn’t used to it,” he said in Cantonese.

Ng added that riders must provide their own protective equipment as companies like Foodpanda and Keeta offer little support for heat protection.

Last year, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, a non-profit, said that nearly 40% of 470 workers it interviewed between late June to mid-August reported that their employers had not provided them with any measures to help prevent heat stress.

A postal worker who asked to remain anonymous revealed that despite working nine hours a day in extreme heat, he receives only 20 minutes for breaks.

“In order to meet our daily targets, we have no other way,” he said in Cantonese, adding that he delivers an average of 16 kilograms of mail daily.

Indoor Furnaces

While outdoor workers struggle under the sun, residents of subdivided flats face equally dangerous conditions indoors.

Hong Kong recorded a maximum temperature of 36.5C in the first week of July, but temperatures inside subdivided flats could be even higher, according to a study by the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO), a local non-governmental human rights advocacy group.

From May to July, the organization surveyed 334 people living in inadequate housing and measured daily temperatures in 11 units. They found that temperatures in these cramped living spaces soared to highs of 40C.

For an elderly subdivided flat tenant surnamed Fong in Kwai Chung, the reality is inescapable: “It’s like living in a steamer. Last summer there were a lot of bed bugs. We couldn’t live in peace,” he told Earth.Org in Cantonese in a phone call.

When the heat becomes unbearable, Fong takes frequent showers and visits shopping malls to cool down, he said.

SoCO also noted that some rooftop slums and cage homes remain boiling hot even with air conditioners running because they are directly exposed to sunlight.

“Many [subdivided unit tenants] experience indoor temperatures that are hotter than outdoors,” SoCO’s Deputy Director Sze Lai-shan told Earth.Org in a phone call. “For the rooftop units, since they’re directly on the top floor and the materials sometimes don’t resist heat well, they are almost always the hottest.”

The economic burden compounds the physical discomfort, with Fong reporting that his electricity bill triples or quadruples during summer months due to air conditioning use.

In response to the sentiment expressed by the subdivided unit residents it surveyed, SoCO urged the government to establish a permanent scheme of subsidies for energy bills, such as monthly allowances, in the long term.

The Way Forward

Noting a gap between official policies and meaningful protection, environmentalists are stepping up to address these climate inequities. 

Founded in 2021, the Community Climate Resilience Concern Group has been working to create accessible cooling spaces throughout Hong Kong.

“There are temporary heat shelters in Hong Kong, but only 19 across all 18 districts. Not all of these shelters are open during daytime, and their locations may not be accessible to the most vulnerable groups,” said Blaire Ho, a member of the youth-led organisation.

In 2022, the group launched a project partnering with cafes and bookshops to provide free cooling spaces for vulnerable populations. These rest stations now span eight districts with more than 10 partner locations.

“We’re trying to change the agenda of using public space to see if they can offer the space freely while it can serve the uses of climate adaptation as well,” Ho told Earth.Org in a phone call. The team has also been collecting heat relief items, such as fans and hats, to distribute to those in need.

Beyond creating physical spaces, the group emphasized the need for education and awareness. “We really hope to raise public awareness because in our education, no one has ever taught us that everyone experiences climate change differently,” said member Osbert Leung. 

Looking ahead, the group called on policymakers to design public spaces that better account for the unequal impact of climate change.

Featured image: Kelly Yu/Earth.Org.

The post Hong Kong’s Outdoor Workers, Subdivided Flat Tenants Bear the Brunt of Summer Heat appeared first on Earth.Org.

In a conversation with Earth.Org, Vishwanath Srikantaiah, a water conservation expert and urban planner, discussed the many initiatives that have been implemented to improve water security in Bangalore, India’s third most populous city. Interestingly, many of these initiatives can be mapped – intentionally or not – to circular economy principles.

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By Sangeeta Jayadevan. Read part 2 here.

The circular economy is an economic system designed to be sustainable by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible, thereby eliminating waste and reducing pollution. Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a “take, make, dispose” pattern where resources are extracted, made into products, and eventually discarded as waste, the circular economy aims to create a closed-loop system. Here, resources continuously flow through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling.

Interestingly, water flows form a circular process, better known as the hydrological cycle: as temperatures increase, water evaporates from surface water bodies and oceans to form water vapor. In a process called transpiration, water vapour is also released from foliage of plants and trees. As the water vapor rises to cooler temperatures and its volume increases, clouds, and eventually precipitation in the form of rain, snow or hail storms, forms. Rainfall falling on oceans and on land replenishes water levels of surface water bodies as well as the soil.

The precipitation that does not run off or recharge groundwater but is stored in the soil is referred to as green water – and it is not available for use. Meanwhile, blue water refers to surface and groundwater stored in rivers, lakes, aquifers and dams that can be extracted for human consumption.

Plants and trees contribute to this cycle by absorbing soil moisture from their roots and releasing water vapour from their leaves. Their roots and foliage play a crucial role in the water cycle by retaining soil moisture and slowing rates of runoffs during rainfall. 

Human activities and climate change have significantly disrupted the water cycle, leading to the surpassing of the planetary boundary for freshwater. The precise manner in which human actions are affecting the hydrological cycle remains a critical question.

Urbanization has transformed vast expanses of once pristine landscapes, replacing permeable natural surfaces with impermeable concrete. This shift has caused a decline in groundwater levels, ultimately diminishing the available water supply for urban populations. Reduced infiltration rates have further repercussions, such as heightened risks of flash floods due to increased surface runoffs into water bodies. Additionally, pollutants originating from urban areas are carried by runoff and deposited into water ecosystems.

The process of urbanization also entails the removal of trees and vegetation, resulting in decreased transpiration. Typically, trees and vegetation retain water in their structures, facilitating groundwater recharge by aiding in soil absorption and retention. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, compromising its water-holding capacity and detrimentally affecting groundwater replenishment.

Lakes and water reservoirs are increasingly encroached upon by expanding urban developments, displacing natural water bodies with built structures. This encroachment diminishes the availability of drinking water, disrupts evaporation rates from these water sources, and hampers the potential for groundwater recharge.

Even in cases where lakes are left untouched, they are frequently utilized as dumping grounds for sewage and industrial effluents, resulting in water pollution. This contamination not only affects the lakes themselves but also seeps into groundwater reservoirs, rendering the water unfit for consumption.

Water Conservation

Recognizing that water is a finite resource, water conservation efforts have been implemented by multiple state and private entities, with varying degrees of success. 

Bangalore, India’s third-largest city with a population of over 14 million, has often grappled with a severe water crisis. Vishwanath Srikantaiah, a water conservation expert and urban planner, has been at the forefront of water conservation efforts in the city, advising and working with various communities to help make Bangalore more water resilient.

In a conversation with Earth.Org, Srikantaiah discussed the many initiatives that have been implemented to improve the city’s water security. Interestingly, many of these initiatives can be mapped – intentionally or not – to circular economy principles.

Reduce

During a recent water shortage, the city made the use of aerator taps across the city compulsory. “As part of demand management, Bengaluru has mandated water efficient fixtures on taps in all homes and commercial establishments,” explained Vishwanath.

Tap aerators can reduce water flow from 12-18 liters per minute to three-six liters per minute – potentially saving over 50% of water in kitchen and hand wash sinks without compromising functionality.

Re-use

In most households, water is allowed to simply drain away after use. This represents a massive waste of an already scarce natural resource. Instead, if this used water is chemically treated, it could well be reused by residents in homes for non-drinking purposes, thus reducing the overall need for water. In Bengaluru, water treatment using Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are mandated in apartments with over 150 flats. 

“Treated wastewater is a huge opportunity for any city. The water we use in our dishwashers,  washing machines  and showers is referred to as grey water. It can be treated at source at Sewage Treatment Plants in the apartment premises. This treated water is then available for use in our homes for non-drinking purposes,” explained Vishwanath. 

Recycle

Some industrial units require large quantities of water daily. Apartments are permitted to sell their excess treated water to such industries. Rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands are supplied with treated wastewater which helps their water levels increase, thereby recharging groundwater. Treated water is also supplied to farmers on the outskirts of the city. This helps farmers become water secure and in turn, helps Bengaluru city become food secure. In this manner water is recycled and put to productive use. 

“We need to invest in sewage networks so that every drop of grey water is collected and treated,” said Vishwanath. 

Bangalore is running the second-largest project of its kind in the world to treat roughly around 2,000 million litres per day of wastewater to fill 500 lakes and make sure that 64,000 farmers receive the treated wastewater. About 1.1 million hectares of land is brought under cultivation, so that the farmers are climate secure, water secure and the city is food secure. “Wastewater is recycled and put to productive use,” he said.

Treated wastewater can play a major role in meeting the growing water demand in rapidly expanding cities, supporting industrial development and sustainable agriculture. 

Strengthening the Water Cycle

Increased urbanization comes with an increase in impermeable surfaces, resulting in reduced infiltration, which has adversely impacted the natural water cycle. In Bengaluru, during the dry months, lakes are supplied with treated water which helps recharge water levels in underground aquifers. Rainwater harvesting is mandatory in apartments and other large facilities. There are plans to create recharge pits in parks and other open areas across the city to enable greater rainwater harvesting. These actions strengthen the natural water cycle by enabling greater water infiltration and groundwater recharging.  

With Bangalore’s rapid growth, implementation gaps are inevitable and water stress still manifests periodically. However, these initiatives, along with residents’ involvement and education, are a step in the right direction, said Vishwanath. Every rapidly growing city can successfully implement these ideas, strengthening the water-cycle and becoming self-sufficient in their water needs. 

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About the author: Sangeeta Jayadevan is an ex-IBMer with an interest in Climate Change, Sustainability and Earth Systems. She enjoys educating herself on this topic and then disseminating the information in simple terms. She volunteers with Earth.Org and with Statistics Without Borders.

The post Using Circular Economy Principles to Fight Water Insecurity: A Case Study from India appeared first on Earth.Org.

More than a year after implementing the first phase of the single-use plastics ban, Hong Kong restaurateurs are lamenting the lack of suitable alternative materials. As the city’s problem with plastic waste persists, the government can learn from successful international case studies and accelerate the adoption of proper plastic alternatives to achieve a plastic-free future.

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The implementation of a two-phase ban on single-use plastics in Hong Kong has taken a hit, as the city struggles to find alternatives.

Last month, Secretary for the Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said on Commercial Radio that the government is looking to launch a trial campaign with selected restaurants within two months to test alternative products and provide feedback to suppliers for improvement.
“We will implement the second phase of the legislation only when the alternative product technology is more mature,” Tse told iCable in June. “It is difficult to require everyone to use their own utensils when buying take-away food, we need to find suitable alternatives before we continue with phase two,” he added.

Two-Phase Ban

The Legislative Council passed the Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Bill for regulating disposable plastic tableware and other plastic products in October 2023. 

The first phase prohibits the sale or supply of styrofoam tableware, disposable plastic tableware such as straws, stirrers, cutlery, and plates, as well as the supply of cups, cup lids, food containers, and food container lids to dine-in and take-out customers in catering establishments. In the second phase, the supply and sale of all of the above plastic tableware in Hong Kong will be forbidden. 

At the same time, hotels and guesthouses are banned from providing free disposable toiletries and grooming products (including rubber-handled toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower caps, razors, nail files, combs, and any liquid products stored in disposable plastic containers), as well as free disposable water in plastic bottles in rooms. The second phase will further prohibit the sale and free supply of multipack rings, table cloths, and plastic stemmed dental floss, and the distribution of free earplugs.

The manufacturing, supply and sale of oxidizable biodegradable plastic products – plastics that cannot be completely decomposed – have also been prohibited since the first phase was implemented in April 2024.

Businesses failing to comply with the regulation will be issued a notice and fined $2,000 if they have not taken action within 21 days from the notice. Repeated offences may result in fines of up to HK$100,000. 

More than 19% of the 3.97 million tonnes of municipal solid waste disposed of at Hong Kong’s landfills in 2023 was plastic waste, a 10.5% decrease from the year prior, according to Environmental Protection Department (EPD) figures. Meanwhile, the quantity of plastic recycled locally rose from 119,900 tonnes in 2022 to 126,600 tonnes in 2023 – but still represented only 6.5% of the total waste.

Other Initiatives

To counter the rising plastic problem in the city, the EPD in 2021 also rolled out a Reverse Vending Machine pilot scheme for collecting plastic beverage containers, which was subsequently expanded to 120 machines scattered across all 18 Hong Kong districts. The machines offer a HK$0.10 rebate for each plastic beverage container returned. Customers need to register an account, and can return a maximum of 30 containers per day. 

“The machine is effective and does not require a huge monetary incentive. The refund of 10 cents for each plastic bottle is already attractive enough for the public to be willing to recycle,” Tse said in February. 

As of last month, the scheme had collected 179 million containers, which are sent to local recyclers, saving more than 6.7 million kilograms of carbon emission, according to EPD data.

However, some critics have argued that the incentive is too low. According to Robert Kelman, Director at Reloop Pacific, an international non-profit that tackles packaging waste throughout the Pacific, the HK$0.10 rebate – the lowest in the world for such a program – is “virtually meaningless” to most Hong Kong consumers. He further argued that the low number of plastic bottles received at the recycling centres is disincentivizing recycling companies to invest in the scheme. 

For Kelman, a scheme cannot succeed unless it is both convenient to consumers and offers an adequate refund value.

“I’m not sure which studies Tse was referring to when he said the rebate of 10 HK cents (1.3 US cents) was ‘attractive enough’ after lawmakers raised doubts about the effectiveness of such a rebate,” said Edwin Lau Che-feng, Executive Director of local environmental organization Green Earth. “Why not use a deposit approach in light of successful cases around the world, some of which have achieved a recovery rate of more than 90 per cent?” 

Lau was referring to so-called Deposit Refund Schemes (DRSs), which apply an initial deposit, or “tax”, on the purchase, which is then returned to the consumer upon proper recycling. 

More than 40 countries around the world have implemented DRSs. Slovakia, for example, requires consumers to pay a deposit of €0.15 (HK$1.37) for packaged beverages. The scheme, launched in 2022, resulted in a recovery rate of 70% in the first year. Similarly, Germany imposes deposits on glass and plastic beverage containers ranging between €0.08 and €0.25 (HK$0.73-2.28) and in 2022, it was able to achieve a 98.4% return rate. 

“The authorities should realise that had they taken the deposit approach, coupled with a higher deposit value than the current rebate of 10 HK cents, producers, with retailers’ support, would have no trouble reaching a recovery rate higher than the suggested initial targets of 10 per cent for drink cartons and 30 per cent for plastic bottles,” said Lau.

You might also like: 3 Waste Management Solutions from Around the World

Plastic-Free Matters

Plastics take 400 years to decompose – and even then, they do not fully disappear but rather break down into tiny particles known as  microplastics. According to Greenpeace East Asia, 97% of Hong Kong’s riverine waste is plastic, of which more than 70% is food, logistics and beverage packaging as well as disposable tableware. 

In 2021, Greenpeace found microplastics in Hong Kong’s countryside streams for the first time, and last year, it detected microplastics in the feces of countryside mammals.

“Country streams are at the front end of the entire water cycle. The fact that they are contaminated by microplastics is a major warning sign that plastic pollution in urban rivers and oceans may be even more serious,” said Tam Wing-lam, the Greenpeace’s Project Director. She warned that microplastics can contaminate the water system, threatening public health.

Christelle Not, Senior Lecturer of Department of Earth Sciences in University of Hong Kong, said Greenpeace’s findings demonstrated that wildlife can still take up microplastics from the environment even when they are far away from urban areas and human activities.

Microplastics carry harmful additives and toxins that can damage the nervous, immune and endocrine systems when they accumulate in the food chain and enter the human body. Exposure to plastics and microplastics is linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, developmental disorder, cancers, birth defects, and endocrine disruption.

Plastic is also detrimental to animals. Sea animals like turtles often mistake plastic for food, but their bodies are unable to digest it. They can become entangled, leading to injuries and even death. 

A research team at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) found that micro beads, manufactured micro plastics used in products ranging from facial scrubs to toothpastes, ending up in the digestive tracts of fish and other marine creatures can affect their growth and development. 
“Despite all the adverse impacts these minute plastic pollutants have on the marine ecosystems, they are still being used in many personal care products around the world – including here in Hong Kong,” said Karen Chan, Assistant Professor from the Division of Life Science at HKUST and study lead.

Finding Alternatives

The most common plastic substitutes in Hong Kong include paper, bamboo, wood, and plant-based fibers such as wood pulp, grass pulp, and bagasse. Among these, paper and bagasse are the most widely used in both tableware and daily accessories due to their eco-friendliness and practicality. 

While considered more eco-friendly than plastic, paper packaging manufacturing is still associated with carbon dioxide emissions and extensive water usage. According to local environmental NGO Friends of the Earth, producing one tonne of paper generates approximately 950 kilograms of carbon dioxide and requires 2,700 litres of water. Still, contrary to plastic, paper is a natural, biological, and in most cases renewable material, making it a better alternative.  

The Hong Kong Consumer Council also reported in 2022 that perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in 23 samples of bagasse-based vegetable fibre tableware, with some paper drinking straws exceeding the European Union’s safe limits. 

PFAS – better known as forever chemicals – are synthetic chemicals used in the manufacture of heat-, oil-, and water-resistant coatings for products like nonstick cookware or waterproof clothes. They are associated with increased risk of certain cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers, and found to reduce the body’s immune system’s ability to fight off infections.

In 2023, researchers from the University of Antwerp in Belgium who examined 39 different types of straws (paper, glass, bamboo, stainless steel, plastic) discovered that PFAS was present in 90% of paper straws and 80% of bamboo straws. 75% of all tested plastic straws also contained PFAS.

The cost of non-plastic tableware is also one of the factors that restaurants need to take into account. According to the Environmental Protection Department, the price difference between the lowest-priced disposable plastic product option and its lowest-priced alternative is still relatively large, ranging from HK$0.12 to HK$0.68.

However, costs are expected to decrease as demand, and consequently production, ramp up, said Simon Wong Ka-wo, President of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades. 

Some restaurant owners or customers were also unhappy about the quality of alternative options. “If you’re walking home with your takeaway order in this box, that’d be fine. But if you have to drive, then that wouldn’t work,” the owner of a Shanghainese restaurant, who is surnamed Lee, told Hong Kong Free Press last April. 

“It literally takes two sips [before] the [paper] straw starts getting soggy, and the forks don’t even work!” said one of his customers.

At the end of the day, neither recycling nor switching to biodegradable tableware is the best solution, environmentalists argue. 

“Instead of placing our hopes in recycling and the use of degradable plastics, we should seek to avoid, reduce at source and reuse,” said Lau. “We must ditch our addiction to single-use plastics, slash plastic production at source and develop genuine plastic-free and harmless alternatives.” 

Featured image: Martina Igini.

The post The Challenges of Setting Hong Kong Free From Single-Use Plastics  appeared first on Earth.Org.

Smallholder farmers provide a third of the world’s food, yet they are often exploited by middlemen. In India, the Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme is engineering a new system to help farmers transition to regenerative farming, while connecting them with local businesses and consumers.

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As a farmer myself, I understand the struggles of smallholder farming first-hand. For the 570 million smallholder farmers worldwide, profits are becoming increasingly precarious. Between increasingly erratic weather patterns, water stress and soil erosion, a solid harvest is no longer inevitable. 

That has to change. Today, many farmers have no choice but to borrow from tomorrow’s harvests to provide food today. This is because the middlemen, and the markets who drive them, favor bulk produce. But bulk produce demands intensive, fertilizer-heavy mono-crop farming practices. Practices that do not just erode our soils, but also the stability of our future food systems. 

Soil health has implications for everyone, not just for farmers. Fortunately, we can replenish soil health by making regenerative farming the profitable option for farmers. In the process, we can also replenish human health by making organic produce affordable for the global middle class. 

To accelerate the transition to regenerative farming, we have to build a fairer, healthier, more accessible market. By allowing farmers to sell directly to consumers, we create a virtuous cycle; we can increase profit for the seller while reducing the price for the buyer. 

At the Save Soil Regenerative Agriculture Programme in India, we are building a new type of market for organic, regeneratively-grown food. What we are building in India could be used as a blueprint for scaling regenerative agriculture markets across the world. 

Ultimately, pivoting to regenerative practices is more profitable for the farmer in the long run. It reduces the need to invest in heavy tillage machinery, pesticides, and fertilizers. 

Regardless of their profitability, farmers making the transition to regenerative practices face many hurdles. 

The first is education. Practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and bio-input preparation need to be taught. Along with in-person training, we have set up a hotline where farmers can call for instant advice on how to pivot to regenerative farming. 

The next is market access. Traditionally, small farmers rely heavily on middlemen. These middlemen often have an unfair advantage over farmers. Middlemen often have monopolies on supply chains and better access to accurate market price information. This enables them to manipulate prices, which further cuts into what are already razor-thin margins. This trend is not unique to India; it has been reported everywhere from Nigeria to the United States. 

Our model addresses this by enabling farmers to sell directly to consumers, allowing them to retain a greater portion of their earnings. By reducing reliance on middlemen, farmers are incentivized to adopt regenerative practices as they know they can get a fair price. 

Of course, regenerative farming and organic produce remain a fringe phenomenon at the country level, so eliminating middlemen entirely may not be feasible. However, by selling a greater share of produce to local communities, restaurants and businesses, we can allow farmers to diversify their clients, therefore reducing reliance on the exploitative practices of middlemen. 

This model not only allows farmers to sell produce at a fair price. It grants local people access to organic food that would otherwise be far more expensive in supermarkets. 

Currently, our pilot phase in Coimbatore involves approximately 100 regenerative farmers supplying produce directly to the Isha Yoga Center. This center provides daily natural food to around 4,000 residents, demonstrating a sustainable market. Farmers receive a 10-15% premium above conventional market prices. 

This model is scalable, as demonstrated by our progress across Tamil Nadu. Approximately 9,000 farmers have already transitioned to regenerative methods. We are also developing a digital platform and a network of WhatsApp groups to connect regenerative farmers to consumers, restaurants, and institutions. 

Another hurdle comes in the form of certification. High-premium organic produce requires a form of third-party certification, a process typically too costly and complicated for small-scale farmers. Instead, our model leverages the trust of local people with the farmers in their own community. This approach allows farmers to obtain premium prices without the significant burden of formal certification, therefore streamlining their path to market.

Despite our initial success, notable challenges remain. These include digital literacy gaps among rural farmers, logistical complexities in distribution, and resistance from entrenched market interests that benefit from the existing agricultural systems. 

Our structured support system helps farmers overcome these hurdles.

What sets this initiative apart is its emphasis on grassroots empowerment. While boosting soil health remains crucial, this program is about far more than that. It is about revitalizing rural economies, boosting human health and, ultimately, creating a sustainable market for naturally grown food. 

We are also proving the widely popularized claim that regenerative agriculture cannot feed an entire nation to be untrue. The farmers enrolled in the program are taking yields that match, and often surpass, those taken by conventional farms. Once the government understands this, and provides regenerative farmers with the same level of subsidy support received by conventional farmers, then we can prove that regenerative farming can provide a firm food foundation for India. 

Ultimately, creating robust, accessible markets is essential for the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture. Our experience in Coimbatore and broader Tamil Nadu has proven that with the right support, small-scale farming does not have to be a precarious way to make a living. 

84% of the world’s farms are small holdings, and they provide a third of the world’s food. By creating economically attractive conditions for regenerative agriculture, we can foster a sustainable transformation in global farming practices, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment alike.

This model, rooted in the success we have seen in Tamil Nadu, could be scaled across the globe. Countries with similar smallholder farming dynamics, like Kenya, Indonesia, and Peru, stand to benefit from a model that combines farmer training, direct-to-consumer sales, and a supportive digital ecosystem. 

In East Africa, where erratic rainfall and soil degradation threaten food security, regenerative methods such as agroforestry and composting could restore fertility and stabilize farmer yields. In Southeast Asia, where rice monoculture dominates, diversification through crop rotation and organic practices could provide more resilient soils and incomes. In Latin America, where many rural farmers struggle with market access, platforms that bypass intermediaries can level the playing field and revive local economies. This model can be adapted to local contexts while keeping the core principles of farmer empowerment, market access, and community trust intact. 

Ultimately, regenerative farming does not just heal the land. It could deliver a healthier, more equitable food system worldwide. If we are to make regenerative agriculture the global norm, we cannot just focus on the ecological benefits. We need to create a compelling economic case for both farmers and consumers.

The post Want to Make Regenerative Farming Mainstream? Cut the Middleman appeared first on Earth.Org.

The continent is warming at nearly twice the global average rate, intensifying extreme weather events that are “exacting an unacceptably high toll” in the region, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

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Asia continued to warm rapidly in 2024, the hottest or second-hottest year on record for the continent depending on the dataset, according to a new study.

The new State of the Climate in Asia report, a joint effort by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other regional and international organizations, highlighted significant changes in key climate indicators like land and sea temperatures, glacier mass and sea levels.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said these changes will have major repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems, adding that extreme weather is “already exacting an unacceptably high toll” in the region.

Heat

Asia is warming at nearly twice the global average rate, with the warming trend in the past 23 years almost double that during the 1961–1990 period, according to the report. In 2024, prolonged heatwaves affected most of the continent, with temperatures 1.04C above the 1991–2020 average.

Saudi Arabia experienced an extreme heatwave in mid-June, coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage season in Mecca, leaving at least 1,301 pilgrims dead.

Temperatures rose dramatically between April and May across southeast Asia, affecting Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Thailand, where daily temperature records for that time of year were broken multiple times, recorded 38 heat-related deaths during that period.

In India, 112 people died from extreme heat during an intense heatwave in May, during which temperatures surpassed 50C.

In the East, Japan had its hottest July, hottest summer and hottest autumn on record. China and South Korea also recorded multiple daily temperature records last summer.

Extreme heat is extremely dangerous for humans as it compromises physiological processes meant to keep the body cool, heightening the risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. It can be life-threatening if not promptly treated.

Heatwaves kill nearly half a million people each year globally, making them the deadliest extreme weather event. Like other extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, heatwaves have been made more frequent and intense by climate change, which is primarily a consequence of fossil fuel burning.

Sea-surface temperatures across Asia were the highest on record last year, as most of the ocean area in the region was affected by marine heatwaves of strong, severe, or extreme intensity – the largest extent since records began in 1993, WMO said. 

Ocean warming is increasing sea levels, putting coastal communities at risk. On the Pacific and Indian Ocean sides of Asia, sea levels exceeded the global average last year, threatening low-lying coastal areas.

Extreme Weather Events

Warmer oceans are intensifying tropical cyclones and rainfall events in the region, causing large-scale destruction. The most significant event of the year was Typhoon Yagi, which wrecked havoc in the Philippines, China, Vietnam, laos, Thailand and Myanmar in early September. The death toll from the event surpassed 1,000, while hundreds of thousands of buildings were reportedly destroyed.

Extreme rainfall and flooding events brought widespread death and destruction in many eastern Asian countries, including Pakistan, which had its wettest April on record; Kazakhstan, where the rapid melting of a heavy snowpack inundated entire cities; the United Arab Emirates, which saw its heaviest rainfall event since records began in 1949; as well as Bahrain, Oman and Iran.

South Asia’s monsoon season also brought extreme rainfall events, with widespread flooding affecting Nepal, India, and Pakistan.

Off Track

The WMO underscored the urgent need for enhanced early warning systems and climate adaptation strategies to safeguard lives and livelihoods in this increasingly vulnerable region.

So far, the world has warmed by 1.3C compared to pre-industrial times, though data suggests that 20-40% of the global human population live in regions that, by the decade 2006–2015, had already experienced warming of more than 1.5C in at least one season.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, every 0.5C of global warming will cause discernible increases in the frequency and severity of heat extremes, heavy rainfall events, and regional droughts.

Featured image: Moniruzzaman Sazal / Climate Visuals Countdown, via Wikimedia Commons.

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A new report by The Nature Conservancy in collaboration with Civic Exchange outlines a roadmap for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning in Hong Kong.

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Nature-based solutions present a viable, scalable, and cost-effective solution to mitigate climate change-related issues in Hong Kong, according to a new report that outlines a model for 21st-century cities in addressing global climate challenges.

Compiled by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in collaboration with Civic Exchange, the report outlines a roadmap for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning in Hong Kong, a city described as having the potential to be a leader in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.

The study focuses on the Northern Metropolis, a large-scale development plan that encompasses Yuen Long and North Districts. The project, which aims to integrate the city with neighboring Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, presents an “unprecedented opportunity” to embed nature-based solutions, said TNC.

Projects such as coastal wetland management, and mangrove and oyster reef restoration can enhance the area’s rich ecosystems and help preserve its function as natural infrastructure against flooding. Similarly, hillside reforestation and the expansion of urban green spaces can help tackle the growing issue of urban heat. A study carried out in Hong Kong found that trees can lower maximum temperatures by 6C, with an average cooling effect of 3C.

Despite evident potential, the Northern Metropolis development project has drawn criticism over its potential impact on wetland conservation and local villagers. Environmental organizations The Conservancy Association and Greenpeace last year found that 78 hectares – or 0.78 square kilometres – of protected wetland in Hong Kong’s New Territories have been destroyed since the government announced the development project in 2021.

Conservationists have long denounced a lack of comprehensive policies for conservation in Hong Kong. For TNC, a lack of understanding of the scale and value of nature, insufficient strategic planning, fragmented policies, and a lack of high-level institutional commitments to nature-based solutions are also part of the problem, and risk compromizing the outcome.

Nature-based solutions are actions aimed at utilizing, protecting, sustainably managing, and restoring natural ecosystems to address societal challenges and for the benefit of both people and nature. Examples include wetland restoration for flood control and water purification, tree planting for carbon sequestration and natural cooling but also green infrastructure like green roofs and permeable pavements.

“We are living through a silent crisis – one where the destruction of nature is often rationalized as the cost of progress, and where concrete and steel spread over landscapes as if nature were an afterthought. Yet, nature is not optional,” said Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “When we ignore nature, we create risk. When we restore them, we create value,” Lam added.

Speaking at the report’s launch event on Tuesday, Lam said that “we have made tremendous progress in our thinking,” referring to the “relatively new and undeveloped idea” of understanding the true value of nature.

Yet, nature is under unprecedented pressure. Human activities, habitat destruction, and climate change are pushing ecosystems to their limits, with approximately one million plant and animal species at the brink of extinction, many of which could disappear within decades.

Recommendations

“As the government updates its Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) and prepares a new Climate Action Plan, it must embed far greater urgency and ambition—particularly scaling up Nature-based Solutions,” said Kitty Tam, Lead Author of the report and Programme Lead at Civic Exchange.

In the short term, TNC recommends setting up a nature-based solutions task force and carrying out a pilot ecosystem restoration initiative, with both Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area responsible for monitoring progress. In the medium term, it suggests setting up a regional financing model that prioritizes both biodiversity credits and carbon markets, while in the long term, it recommends institutionalizing a nature-based solutions governance framework to guide policy and implementation of these projects in the wider region.

Featured image: Kyle Lam/hongkongfp.com.

The post Integrate Nature-Based Solutions For A Climate-Resilient Hong Kong, Urges New Report appeared first on Earth.Org.

Found across the North American and Asian coasts of the Pacific Ocean, the sea otter is one of the smallest, and perhaps the most endearing, marine mammals in the world.

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As with most members of the Mustelidae family, the sea otter has incredibly dense fur, made up of approximately one million hairs per square inch of skin. Although useful for insulation in absence of blubber, the sea otter’s characteristic coat made it the target of the maritime fur trade in the 18th century, forcing the species to the brink of extinction.

The subsequent implementation of international protective legislation in 1911 resulted in a significant recovery of sea otter populations across the species’ endemic range, reducing instances of hunting and persecution. However, pollution, oil spills, climate change and predation continue to pose a substantial threat to the vitality of sea otters, with the species therefore retaining an endangered status.

1. Appearance

The sea otter is the largest member of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers and ferrets. Newborn sea otter pups measure in at a mere 25 centimetres and weigh just 1.4 to 2.3 kilograms. Northern sea otters tend to grow slightly larger than their southern counterparts, with northern males reaching a height of 152 centimetres and a weight of 45 kilograms, while southern males grow to around 120 centimetres in length and weigh 32 kilograms. Slight sexual dimorphism is observed within the species, as females are moderately smaller.

Sea otters typically sport a dark brown undercoat, with lighter brown guard hairs, and have webbed feet to aid with swimming. Their nostrils and ears are able to close when submerged underwater. With 850,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch of skin, the sea otter has the densest fur of any mammal. Comprised of two layers, an undercoat and long guard hairs, this water-repellent coat traps air to aid with buoyancy and insulation in absence of blubber. Sea otters maintain an exceptionally clean coat, often washing themselves after feeding to help retain its waterproof, insulating properties. 

2. Diet 

Since sea otters reside in coastal, shallow waters, their diet consists primarily of marine invertebrates, such as sea urchins, clams, muscles, abalone, crustaceans, snails, squid, and octopuses. Within newly reoccupied habitats in central California, sea urchins, abalones and rock crabs constitute the principal prey of local sea otter populations, whereas those found in soft-sediment habitats tend to consume clams and crabs. Sea otters found within the Aleutian archipelago of Alaska, however, regularly consume bottom dwelling fish, which constitute up to 50% of their diet during certain seasons.

Despite its relatively small stature, a sea otter’s prey size ranges from small snails, clams and limpets, to kelp crabs and giant pacific octopuses. When foraging for abalone, urchins and clams, sea otters tend to select larger prey over smaller options, with Californian populations often disregarding Pismo clams smaller than 7 centimeters in diameter. Sea otters have been found to consume upwards of 100 different species of prey and have an incredibly high metabolism, with a daily food intake of 25-40% of their body weight in order to keep them warm. 

Whilst foraging for food underwater, these marine mammals use loose skin under their armpits to act as a pocket for food storage. Clams, which burrow in soft sediment, are excavated through digging. Males tend to forage at a maximum depth of 82 metres, whereas females only descend to 54 metres. Typically feeding in the morning and afternoon, sea otters float on their backs at the surface of the water to eat. They are amongst the few animals that have been observed using tools to access food sources; for prey such as clams and abalone, sea otters are often seen using a rock to strike and break open hard shells.

3. Habitat & Behaviour

Sea otters are a costal species and therefore use a range of near shore marine environments, foraging primarily in waters less than 30 metres in depth and within a kilometre of the shoreline. Predominantly associated with rocky, intertidal habitats that support kelp beds, sea otters utilise kelp as anchorage to avoid floating away with ocean currents when resting, indicating the importance of kelp canopy as a habitat component. Some have even observed that dense kelp canopy can help otters with predator avoidance, evading shark bites with greater ease. Nevertheless, the species has also been known to spend time in areas with soft-sediment, devoid of kelp, where the substrate consists of mud, silt or sand rather than rocks.

Habitats that offer protection from ocean winds and swells, such as barrier reefs, kelp forests, rocky coastlines, inlets, bays and estuaries, are of critical importance to sea otters as well. Although this marine mammal tends to remain within a small home range and displays high site fidelity, some sea otters, predominantly males, do carry out migrations and long distance movements at certain times of the year.

Sea otters are almost exclusively aquatic, though in some regions they may come ashore to rest or sleep. Known for their characteristic floating, sea otters are incredibly buoyant due to the air trapped within their dense coats, allowing them to sleep, feed, play, and even nurture their young while floating on their backs. These mammals are highly social and are only weakly territorial, with instances of aggression or fighting deemed rare. Males and females float in separate groups of between 10 and 100 individuals, known as “rafts”, often holding hands to prevent separation. 

Sea otters are the only species of otter to give birth whilst in the water, with females typically delivering a litter of one. The coats of newborn pups trap sufficient air to prevent them from diving or becoming submerged underwater, with mothers often wrapping their young offspring in kelp when leaving to hunt and forage. Infants are taught to swim and search for food at four weeks old, and remain dependant until the age of six to eight months.

4. Ecological Importance

Despite their small stature, sea otters are regarded as a keystone species, meaning that they have a profound effect on marine ecosystems and play a crucial role in maintaining the vitality of their habitats.

As mentioned, sea otters rely heavily on kelp forests to provide anchorage when floating in rafts and for foraging. A large proportion of their prey sources reside within kelp forests, such as urchins, crabs, and barnacles. If left unchecked, sea urchin populations can grow rapidly and overgraze on kelp, consuming it faster than it can be replenished and eventually destroying the forest habitat. This creates “urchin barrens”, where nothing but sea urchins are able to grow due to their abundance. Kelp forests, found within coastal ecosystems, sequester significant amounts of atmospheric carbon and prevent it from entering the atmosphere. These marine forests are capable of storing 20 times more carbon per acre than those found on land, with research suggesting that seaweed forests sequester tens of millions of metric tons of carbon yearly within the deep ocean globally. The degradation or loss of kelp forests could thus have grave effects on the levels of atmospheric carbon, highlighting the importance of the trophic function that sea otters serve.

In addition to kelp forests, sea otters tend to hunt for prey, such as crabs, within seagrass meadows and eelgrass beds. Seagrass also sequesters atmospheric carbon, with the flowering plant able to capture carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. By controlling the abundance of crabs within these habitats, crabs are prevented from overpopulating and consuming too much of their prey, which include snails and slugs. Rather than feeding on seagrass, these mollusks graze on algae and other epiphytes that grow on seagrass, performing a “cleaning” service. By removing surface algae, grazing mollusks allow the seagrass to absorb sunlight and grow with greater efficiency, enhancing its ability to act as a carbon sink. 

In addition to serving as blue carbon ecosystems, kelp forests and seagrass meadows are the preferred habitat of a range of marine species that rely on them for shelter and sustenance, including sea otters. These marine mammals are therefore regarded as an indicator species for coastal ecosystems, as the health, vitality and population dynamics of sea otters are indicative of the health of cohabiting species and the ecosystems they share.

5. Threats

Once widespread across the North Pacific Rim, from the coasts of Japan through to Russia and Alaska, down to California and Mexico, sea otters were estimated to have a global population of 150,000 to 300,000 at the start of the 18th century.

Once Russian explorers reached Alaska in 1741, sea otters became the target of an extensive commercial harvest that lasted 150 years until the species was left at the brink of extinction. By 1911, once the International Fur Seal Treaty was implemented, it is hypothesised that a mere 2,000 sea otters remained across 13 remnant colonies. The consequence of this near extirpation was noted in the 1970s by James Estes, a marine ecologist who observed a dramatic loss of kelp forests in absence of sea otters when diving in Alaska. Although the maritime fur trade no longer poses a threat to sea otters, these marine mammals are still vulnerable to pollution and oil spills, disease, entanglement, climate change, and predation.

At present, oil spills are regarded as the most significant anthropogenic threat to sea otters. With no blubber to provide insulation, sea otters rely heavily on their dense coats to keep them warm. When exposed to oil, however, their fur loses its insulating properties and renders sea otters extremely vulnerable to hypothermia and other health complications. Oil accidentally ingested while grooming can further cause illness and gastrointestinal disorders, disrupting the sea otter’s ability to absorb nutrients and often leading to malnutrition and death. Inhalation of oil has also shown to cause lung damage in the species.

In 1989, the tanker vessel Exxon Valdez spilled approximately 42 million litres of crude oil into the ocean in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Within seven months of the event, nearly 1,000 deceased otters were recovered in the spill area, however it is estimated that the total number of sea otter mortalities resulting from the spill ranged from 2,650 and 3,905. Research conducted in the years since the disaster suggests that the Exxon Valdez oil spill had continuous and enduring consequences on sea otter populations, with an increase in mortality rates seen in otters that were four to five years old, or older, at the time of the spill. The study further found that until at least 1996, otters born after the event were also affected negatively. This suggested that, although the direct impact of acute oil exposure accounted for the majority of long-term spill effects, sea otters were also affected indirectly through maternal influences or exposure to lingering oil residue. 

Other marine pollutants, such as run-off from the land, also have detrimental effects on sea otter populations, their habitats, and their prey sources. Run-off occurs when rainwater washes over urban or agricultural areas and collects pollutants as it traverses through waterways. These pollutants include: toxic chemicals used in agriculture, such as pesticides and fertilisers; heavy metals, such as mercury, lead and cadmium; tire dust; nutrients; sewage; and pathogens, such as bacteria and parasites. In addition to having direct, harmful effects on the health of sea otters, these pollutants can accumulate in the tissue of their prey sources, such as bivalves, resulting in the intoxication, infection, and eventual death of sea otters.

In 1996, researchers noted an increase in sea otter mortalities from infectious diseases, such as peritonitis, protozoal encephalitis, and toxoplasmosis, primarily in breeding adults. Caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis is a disease that has plagued sea otter populations for decades as a significant cause of fatalities as well as a contributing factor to the stagnant recovery rates of sea otter populations in California. Felines have been identified as the definitive hosts of toxoplasmosis, shedding Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in their faeces, which is then washed into waterways and eventually reaches the ocean. These oocysts are either ingested directly by sea otters or contaminate the marine invertebrates they regularly consume.

Being a coastal species, sea otters often fall victim to destructive fishing methods that are prone to high bycatch rates and overfishing. Between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, a considerable number of sea otters were caught and drowned in gill nets and trammel nets within California. In 2003, research suggested that sea otter fatalities increased in the summer as commercial fin fisheries became more active in coastal regions. 

As sea otter reintroduction initiatives and range expansions continue to prove successful in California, with the once remnant population of 50 Californian sea otters having risen to approximately 3,000 individuals in 2018, concerns over potential conflicts with shellfish fisheries have also garnered increasing attention.

The reintroduction of sea otters to ecosystems that have been without the species for decades has naturally resulted in the reestablishment of historic feeding interactions. For commercial fisheries that have come to rely on these habitats in the interim, the reemergence of sea otters serves as a source of competition for common prey.

In Southern California, fishermen attributed decreases in abalone populations to the range expansion of sea otters, resulting in the proposal of a species management plan in 1968 to avoid overlap with the lucrative abalone trade. Upon the enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, and once sea otters were given a status of “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 1977, the proposed management plan was rendered invalid as environmental conservation took precedence. Nevertheless, the potential perception that conservation measures negatively impact economic interests could result in decreased public support for the preservation of sea otters.

As ongoing studies continue to shed light on the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, some potential, unquantified stressors to sea otter populations include ocean conditions becoming increasingly warm, acidic, and deoxygenated.

Warming oceans have shown to support the pervasiveness and range expansion of dinoflagellate phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms, and cyanobacterial blooms, which produce toxins such as saxitoxins, brevetoxins, ciguatoxins, domoic acid, and okadaic acid.

Although it is unclear whether the direct effects of toxin exposure on sea otters are acute or chronic, studies have shown that these neurotoxins accumulate in shellfish and induce shellfish poisoning in mammals that consume the contaminated bivalves. This leads to detrimental neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular symptoms.

Research has further indicated that as oceans become increasingly acidic due to excessive carbon dioxide absorption, saxitoxins will increase in toxicity as a result of biochemical changes associated with this lower oceanic pH level. Domoic acid exposure has been identified as a primary cause of death in southern sea otters, and has also been linked to the prevalence of cardiomyopathy in sea otter populations.

Northern sea otters in Alaska appear able to identify and avoid consuming clams that have accumulated low levels of saxitoxin in their tissue, however this decline in available prey sources will likely have a significant impact on sea otters in the future. This is especially true of populations relying on soft-sediment habitats, such as in the Kodiak archipelago of Alaska, where over 50% of a sea otter’s diet consists of butter clams. Bivalves that form their shells from calcium carbonate, such as clams, oysters and muscles, have also been decreasing in numbers due to ocean acidification. The increased acidity of seawater reduces the availability of carbonate ions, making it extremely difficult for bivalves to build and maintain their shells, and even causing some bivalve shells to dissolve.

A continuous, long-term study on the health, body condition, and causes of death of southern sea otters has suggested that the most common primary cause of death amongst the subspecies is shark bite mortality. Primary predators of sea otters include orcas, great white sharks, bald eagles, coyotes, and brown bears, with orcas having been linked to significant sea otter population declines in 1998 across the Western Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. With the preferred prey species of these macropredators, which include Northern fur seals, harbour seals, and sea lions, declining in numbers, the less preferred choice of sea otters become a primary target despite their lack of blubber.

6. Conservation Efforts 

With the enactment of the International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 came an almost immediate end to the drastic population declines that sea otters had suffered for decades prior, marking the start of a long journey towards the species’ recovery. The subspecies Enhydra lutris nereis, known as the Southern or Californian sea otter, is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), while E. lutris lutris and E. lutris kenyoni are listed under Appendix II.

In the US, sea otters are awarded legislative protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and were added to the Endangered Species Act in 1977, whilst in Canada they are managed under the Species at Risk Act. As such, it is illegal to purchase, sell or possess any part the endangered species or items made from its body parts.

Such conservation initiatives allowed sea otter populations to gradually increase in numbers, reaching a global estimate of 30,000 individuals by the mid-20th Century. Nevertheless, this figure represented a mere 10% of the species’ historic population estimate and sea otters remained absent from over 3000 kilometres of their former coastal range. Research indicated that the reluctance of sea otters to disperse from their home territory and traverse deep channels would render natural range expansions unlikely, therefore biologists initiated relocation initiatives in the mid-1960s. Healthy otters from the Aleutian Islands were transported to Southeast Alaska, British Colombia, Washington, Oregon and California. These reintroduction efforts were deemed extremely successful, with recorded population increase rates of 20% in some regions.

In Southeast Alaska, the initial population of 400 to 450 introduced sea otters has grown to approximately 25,000. A further 8,000 now inhabit the coast of British Colombia, having begun as a population of just 89 released individuals. This recovery is widely seen as an incredible achievement in marine conservation, as a species on the brink of extinction with fewer than 2,000 individuals now consists of a population of approximately 125,000 sea otters. 

Unfortunately, relocation efforts were not as successful in Southern California and Oregon. Of the small groups of sea otters transported from Alaska to the Oregon coast, none appeared to stay as scientists theorised the mammals had attempted to swim back to their home range and died. On San Nicholas Island in Southern California, a population of 125 introduced sea otters was reduced to just 12, however the remnant sea otters survived and have now grown to have a population of 150.

At present, Southern sea otters occupy a mere 13% of their historical range, remaining absent from the Oregon Coast, and consist of a population of approximately 3,000 individuals. Although this is a significant recovery, given that a single remnant colony of 50 sea otters remained in central California in 1911, the reintroduction of sea otters to Northern California and Oregon is regarded as necessary to strengthen genetic diversity and support the sustainability of sea otters by connecting southern and northern subspecies.

Research has indicated that there is sufficient suitable habitat to support reintroduction efforts, as the region represents the most extensive remaining gap in the once continuous historic range of the species. Now equipped with data collected from numerous successful reintroduction initiatives, scientists and conservationists can more accurately and efficiently determine areas along the Californian coast that would most benefit from the presence of sea otters, and where threats to reintroduced populations are minimal.

Despite the numerous benefits that sea otters bring to coastal marine ecosystems, reintroduction and range expansion initiatives have faced conflict with shellfish fisheries that ascribe decreases in the availability of shellfish to the reemergence of sea otters. In California, abalone and Dungeness crab fisheries have expressed concern about the potential competition they face with expanding sea otter populations. A report funded by the fishing industry in Alaska attributed a $28 million US dollar loss between 2005 and 2011 to sea otters. Yet, some have pointed to evidence of a historic coexistence between humans and sea otters, in the form of indigenous and archeological knowledge, as proof that conservation initiatives can account for the interests of all parties involved. 

At present, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act allow coastal Native tribes to hunt sea otters, as long as they are used for sustenance or traditional handicrafts. This practice is monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through their Marking, Tagging and Reporting system, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act further requires the implementation of species recovery plans to ensure populations remain at viable levels. Some have noted the potential of this arrangement to serve as a form of population control for the species, as Native tribes have harvested up to 1,500 sea otters in some years and such a system has proven to support marine biodiversity over millennia of human-animal coexistence.

This holistic approach to conservation is evident in the ethos of organisations such as the Elakha Alliance, which aims to use scientific and socio-economic policy assessments that reflect the interest of Native tribes, governments, environmental groups and fishery representatives to determine the most effective strategies for the restoration and protection of sea otter populations in Oregon. If such initiatives prove successful in Oregon, they can be adapted and applied to other states and countries in order to minimise conflict between humans and sea otters, to better protect the species against the threats they still face, and to support the full recovery of sea otter populations throughout their entire endemic range.

How to Help

• Celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week. Taking place between 21-27 September, Sea Otter Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity to inform those around you of the ecological importance of sea otters, the threats they face, and the small steps that people can take to help protect the species. 
• Opt for eco-friendly household cleaners. When buying household cleaning products at the market, opt for non-toxic and biodegradable cleaners that are better for the environment and marine ecosystems.
• Clean up pet waste properly. Felines carry the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, that causes toxoplasmosis in sea otters. When disposing of cat faeces, avoid contaminating waterways that will end up in the ocean. Avoid purchasing “flushable” kitty litter. 

Featured image: Lee Jaffe/Flickr.

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The rapidly-growing Chinese giant recently ranked among the worst fast fashion companies for emissions reduction and sustainability efforts and as the top polluting retailer.

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Fast fashion retail giant Shein’s carbon footprint increased significantly in 2024, according to the company’s sustainability report.

Published Friday, the report indicated that emissions across all levels of its operations rose compared to 2023.

Supply chain emissions represented the largest share of the company’s emissions at 11,201,419 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e), a 9.7% jump compared to 2023. They comprise emissions that come from Shein’s supply chain activities (manufacturing clothing, sourcing materials, dyeing fabrics, and garment assembly), the production and transportation of operational consumables (office supplies, packaging, and equipment), and the energy use of its digital infrastructure (data centers, cloud computing, and software services).

The second-largest source of emissions came from the transportation and distribution of products to and between Shein facilities, to customers, as well as of returns. These rose 13.7% to 8,519,829 mtCO2e last year – the equivalent of nearly 2 million gas-powered vehicles driven for one year.

Contrary to many of its competitors, which ship most of their products on container vessels, Shein mainly relies on air freight to send cheap clothes from its suppliers in China to over 150 markets worldwide.

Currently valued at $30 billion, Shein has long been at the center of criticism regarding its labor practices and environmental impact. The company has become a prominent example of the fast fashion model, known for its rapid manufacturing and distribution cycle of clothing, low prices, and extensive use of social media marketing strategies.

According to Yale Climate Connections estimates, a new Shein design may take as little as 10 days to become a garment, with up to 10,000 items added to the site each day and as many as 600,000 items for sale at any given time at an average price tag of $10.

Shein’s fast-to-market strategy is “alarming”, according to a report by environmental organization Stand.earth published earlier this month. The Singapore-headquartered company ranked among the worst fast fashion retailers for emissions reduction and sustainability efforts and as the top polluter. “If SHEIN were a country, it would be the 100th biggest emitter in the world, almost as much pollution as the entire country of Lebanon, having increased Scope 3 emissions by over 170% in just two years,” the report said.

The fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of total global CO2 emissions, as much as the emissions generated by the European Union and more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. It is also a major source of water consumption and pollution as well as textile waste, with some 92 millions tons of textiles ending up in landfills every year – the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes being incinerated or send to landfill sites every second. 

Featured image: Dick Thomas Johnson/Flickr.

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The Nature Conservancy is calling on the public to voice their support for greater marine conservation in Hong Kong’s updated Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which is now open for public consultation for the next two months.

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The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on Thursday called on the Hong Kong government to prioritize marine conservation and oyster reef restoration.

Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is set to launch an updated Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) by the end of 2025. First formulated in 2016 and updated every five years, the document informs conservation of local biodiversity and sustainable development in the city.

In a press release published Thursday, the Nature Conservancy (TNC), the world’s leading international conservation non-profit organization, urged the AFCD to include robust measures to protect and restore vital coastal ecosystems – particularly oyster reefs – which are among the most endangered marine habitats globally.

Despite Hong Kong’s rich marine biodiversity – home to over 5,900 species, or more than one-quarter of all marine species recorded in mainland China – marine conservation efforts have lagged far behind those on land. Only about 6% of Hong Kong’s marine waters are protected, well below the global target of 30%. Many ecologically important habitats, including oyster reefs, remain outside of protected areas and face persistent threats, particularly in western waters.

Oyster and other shellfish reefs deliver vital benefits to people and the planet, including, fish production, regulating water quality and coastal protection. Yet, over the past two centuries, more than 85% of the world’s shellfish ecosystems have been lost. In Hong Kong, a city largely built with limestone derived from oyster shells, historical dredging, reclamation, and urban development have decimated once-abundant oyster habitats.

Any remaining oyster reefs today are not officially recognized as ecologically important, are unprotected and therefore highly vulnerable to ongoing harvesting, degradation and reclamation projects. This includes the proposed Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, which do not take shellfish reefs into account when conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment.

“Ecological restoration presents a huge opportunity for nature and people. However, ecological restoration is not without its challenges, that’s why it cannot replace nature conservation, and should never be used to justify the destruction or degradation of ecosystems,” said Marine Thomas, Associate Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong (TNC).

With the BSAP now under review, the public has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to advocate for stronger marine conservation policies and the health of Hong Kong waters, TNC said on Thursday. The organization will be submitting formal recommendations to AFCD and encouraged the public to take part by submitting their views before the deadline on July 11.

TNC’s Key Recommendations for the BSAP

To reverse biodiversity loss and strengthen coastal resilience, TNC recommends that the updated BSAP prioritize the following:

Expand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard coastal ecosystems

• Scale up protection in line with the global “30×30” target by designating new MPAs and implementing other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).
• Prioritize the inclusion of biodiversity hotspots and underrepresented habitat types, notably areas such as South Lantau, Tung Chung, Port Shelter, and the coastal area of Deep Bay.

Initiate large-scale restoration of degraded oyster ecosystems to reverse biodiversity loss and improve water quality

The 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework recognises that conservation alone is not enough – restoration must be scaled up to reverse biodiversity loss. TNC and the University of Hong Kong have conducted territory-wide feasibility assessments, showing that oyster reef restoration is both scientifically sound and technically feasible. The key barrier is access to suitable seabed areas. To restore these vital ecosystems, we should:

• Include targeted restoration strategies in marine park management plans.
• Make seabed areas available for restoration efforts outside of protected areas.
• Launch reef restoration projects in at least 30% of suitable bays by 2030, to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and rebuild ecosystem resilience.

Strengthen legal protection for endangered species and ecosystems

• Establish and maintain an up-to-date list of locally threatened species and ecosystems to inform conservation priorities. To support this, TNC – together with the University of Hong Kong – is currently conducting an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems assessment for Hong Kong’s oyster reefs, providing the scientific foundation needed to formally recognise and protect these endangered habitats.
• Update and amend legislation to formalize the list and extend legal protection to currently unprotected but endangered species – including oysters and key marine fishes.
• Develop species-specific action plans to recover endangered ecosystems such as oyster reefs, through expanded protected areas and scaled restoration.

“This is a critical opportunity to share your voice in shaping the future of Hong Kong’s marine environment. We stand at a crossroads; if we act now, we can bring back these once abundant ecosystems, securing cleaner water, healthy fisheries, and stronger coastlines for future generations, or we continue to destroy our oceans, possibly to a point of no return,” said Thomas.

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To learn more about oyster reefs and why they matter to Hong Kong, TNC is featured in the documentary City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs, which explores the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of these lost ecosystems – and the opportunity to restore them. Watch the documentary at www.cityofshells.com.

Featured image: Derek Tang.

The post The Nature Conservancy Urges Hong Kong Government to Prioritize Marine Conservation, Oyster Reef Restoration appeared first on Earth.Org.