In today’s edition:

⚡️ US and Aus partnership

🚜 Saving Our Soils

🌳 No change to EU nature law

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⚡️ Energy (1-minute read)

US and Australia partner on climate and clean energy

What’s happened: Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese say climate and clean energy will become a “central pillar” of the alliance between the US and Australia – and they will ramp up cooperation on critical minerals.

In practice: Australia supplies around half of the world's lithium and other minerals like rare earths used in batteries for electric cars. The deal paves the way for Australian suppliers of these minerals, and renewable energy, to be treated as domestic suppliers under the U.S. Defence Production Act (and regulations like the landmark U.S. Inflation Reduction Act). This will allow Australian companies to benefit from green subsidies and investment from American firms.

Why it matters: The move is part of a US push to diversify supply chains away from dominant critical minerals producer China. It will also serve to funnel more funding to Australian Climate Technologies to promote wider adoption.

🚜 AgriTech (1-minute read)

Biotechnology is helping save our soils

95% of our food relies on healthy soils, yet, only 0.001% of soil microbial species have been identified. As farming and deforestation erode soil and destroy these microbial species, how can we develop products to support soil health without knowing the organisms that live in it?

Mapping out soil species: A soil-data startup, Trace Genomics, is helping to grow an understanding of life below our feet by sequencing and providing info on soil organisms’ DNA (a process called metagenomics). The company has one of the largest agricultural soil databases in the world, which helps investors judge the soil sustainability of produce by providing a score based on a farm’s soil biodiversity. The platform also provides analytics for farmers on nutrient cycling - to support improved soil health.

Importance: The UN estimates that preventing biodiversity loss and greenhouse-gas emissions from soil could lead to an economic return of over $125 trillion annually.

Floating farms help climate change adaptation

A traditional practice of growing vegetables, fruits and spices on floating rafts is getting recognition as a climate-resilient, nature-based solution for low-lying countries vulnerable to the flooding impacts of climate change. With floods causing $21 billion of crop and livestock losses in low- and middle-income countries between 2008-2018, these low-cost floating rafts have serious potential. The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have designated 2,500 hectares of floating gardens in Bangladesh as one of the world’s 622 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems — with estimates that the country could cultivate up to 2 million hectares (7,700 square miles) this way.

🌳 Nature (1-minute read)

EU will not rewrite contested nature law, bloc’s green chief says

The European Commission will not redraft a landmark law to restore damaged environments, the bloc’s green policy chief said in the face of calls from some lawmakers to throw out the proposal.

Details: One law would require countries to introduce measures to restore nature in 20% of their land and sea. The second, designed to cut pollution and halt the collapse of Europe’s bee and butterfly populations, would halve the EU’s chemical pesticide use by 2030.

Concerns: Lawmakers from the European People’s Party, which has led the campaign to reject the proposal, were concerned the law would slow progress for renewable energy projects in areas where nature restoration measures are introduced AND reduce agricultural output.

A case for the defence: The green policy chief said the proposals would make Europe’s farms more resilient to worsening climate change impacts like floods and drought, improve the land’s ability to absorb water and avoid soil erosion.- ultimately supporting long-term agri output.

💭 Little Bytes

Quote: “Our Acceleration Agenda aims to make up for lost time. It calls for all G7 countries to reach net zero as close as possible to 2040, and for emerging economies to do so as close as possible to 2050.” — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 

Stat: 22% of the world population could suffer under dangerously hot conditions by 2100

Watch: Scientists conduct an “ocean census” to discover 100,000 species in a decade

🗞 In other news…

• Asahi's new vending machines absorb and store CO2 for turning into fertilizer and concrete.

• BNP Paribas: will no longer finance the development of new oil and gas fields

• G7 pledges climate progress but backs ‘temporary’ use of gas.

• A startup from Australia is making a coffee cup that can be eaten to combat the plastic disposed of in landfills.

🎣 Gone Phishing

Three of these stories are true, one we've made up. Guess which:

• Seagulls make off with stashes of drugs

• New fungi-based chocolate is coming to a shop near you

• World’s most expensive ice cream costs nearly $7k

• Killer whales sink a boat in Europe

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Written by Colin and Ollie - Drop us a message!