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The world is switching from fossil fuels to clean energy, but mining the minerals that are needed for solar panels, wind turbines and batteries is destructive to ecosystems and local communities. Can it be done differently? 'Mining companies are now starting afresh, but now they are also wearing a green jacket – after all, they are digging for the energy transition! But they still operate entirely according to the old, colonial system.' Vice Versa sets out on an investigation.

A new report exposes the devastating impact of Suzano’s operations on South America’s environment and local communities. The paper producer is a major landholder, controlling 2.7 million hectares across 7 Brazilian states and 3 crucial biomes.

At last year’s regional summit Conversations from the Amazon, representatives of Indigenous peoples gathered in Colombia to share knowledge and develop ‘sustainable initiatives of cultural and economic value’. Governments in the Amazon can set to work with them now, for the protection of the world’s richest rainforest. ‘You can cross the border in ten minutes, but sometimes it takes you years to complete a deal legally.’

This article originally appeared in a special issue of journalistic platform Vice Versa’ called “Listen, a new sound!” about the Power of Voices partnerships.

Between 2021-2025, WECF, together with our close strategic partner the Global Forest Coalition (GFC) and international network partners, are engaged as the gender technical partners (GTPs) of the Green Livelihoods Alliance (GLA) ‘Forests for a Just Future’ programme. The GLA seeks to ensure that tropical forests and forest landscapes are sustainably and inclusively governed to mitigate and adapt to climate change, fulfil human rights and safeguard local livelihoods.

As nations globally strive to find sustainable solutions to climate adversity, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and locally-led adaptation (LLA) emerged as a promising approaches, blending traditional knowledge with innovative strategies to enhance ecological and human well-being. This article explores the implementation of these approaches in Bolivia, where watershed agreements are made to address the impacts of climate change. This case study is based on the experience of one of IUCN NL’s Bolivian GLA partners: Fundación Natura Bolivia.

The Chiquitania forest, located in the eastern lowlands of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and extending into Mato Grosso, Brazil, represents one of the most unique and critically important ecosystems in the world. Chiquitania is a tropical dry forest, a biome that does not have the same global recognition as the Amazon Rainforest, yet it plays an essential role in biodiversity conservation and climate regulation.

The fair and equitable production and distribution of energy resources, plus access to green and renewable energy, is not only critical for a healthy planet but also an important matter of just societies and futures. Together with our partners, we recognize issues around energy as ecofeminist matters that need a strong feminist human rights-based approach. 

As an ecofeminist network, we want to provide space for the stories of inspiring champions in the fields of gender equality and the fight against climate change and environmental pollution. We believe that a sustainable future and environment need feminist solutions reflecting the lives of people on the ground. That is why we work on transformative gender equality and women’s human rights in interconnection with sustainable development and climate justice.

Last week, after months of negotiations, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was approved by the European Parliament. This approval came two years after the European Commission proposed the directive. This directive is an important step towards reducing companies’ negative impacts on employees, citizens and the environment.