Gonzalo Muñoz shares insights on the current progress of the food systems transformation – from key takeaways from COP 29, the road to COP 30 in Brazil – to the potential of the current UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP – to drive action on land restoration and drought resilience.
As part of the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, Edges of Earth spoke with JD Stimson, Operations Manager and Freediving Instructor at Dive Alaska, who is building a resilient ecotourism community by connecting locals and visitors to Alaska’s underwater world while championing marine conservation.
As part of the Ocean Breakthroughs initiative, Edges of Earth spoke with Porfiria Gómez, Director of the ocean conservation nonprofit Orgcas in Baja California Sur, Mexico, who is working with local fishing communities to transition from shark fishing to sustainable tourism, blending traditional knowledge with modern conservation practices to protect marine ecosystems and support coastal livelihoods.
As part of the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, exploration team Edges of Earth spoke with Naw Rutha, the only female Karen scuba instructor in the Andaman Islands, who is preserving her community’s ocean heritage by training future divers, protecting marine ecosystems, and learning from past generations to combat climate challenges.
As part of the Climate Champions’-led Ocean Breakthroughs, the Edges of Earth team spent time in Belize to learn from and spotlight the incredible efforts of local leaders, including Tara Scarborough. Through interviews dives, and deep conversations, Tara shared her commitment to uniting her community to safeguard Belize’s precious marine ecosystems.
The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) brought together businesses, private finance and subnational actors from around the world, marking significant progress in the collective effort to combat climate change. COP29 also saw steps forward for climate finance, the operationalization of carbon markets, as well as progress on the Mitigation Work Program and the global goal on adaptation.
Meet Neal Spackman, a regenerative development visionary bringing transformative change to degraded landscapes and communities worldwide.
Through projects like the Al Baydha Project and Regenerative Seawater Agriculture (RSA), Neal is breathing life back into ecosystems while creating sustainable livelihoods.
Meet Gator Halpern, Co-founder and President of Coral Vita, who’s scaling coral restoration to combat ocean warming. By cultivating resilient corals in high-tech farms, Coral Vita restores damaged reefs in the Bahamas and beyond, safeguarding biodiversity and supporting local economies.
Women are at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis, bringing unique perspectives to drive equity and resilience. This feature highlights eight inspiring leaders proving that inclusive climate action is essential in our race to a better world.
Meet Rajesh Shah, Managing Trustee of VIKAS Centre for Development, championing community-led climate resilience through the Great Green Wall of Gujarat. Rajesh’s initiative empowers marginalized communities to restore coastal ecosystems while creating sustainable livelihoods.
Meet Deepa Lama, Co-founder and President of Kalpavaatika Society Nepal, who is championing urban sustainability by transforming kitchen waste into compost and using rooftops for farming in Kathmandu. Her project, “Enhancing Urban Sustainability through Nature-based Solutions,” empowers over 500 community members to address waste management and food security challenges by composting organic waste and cultivating rooftop gardens.
Meet Angela Chaudhuri, CEO & Chief Catalyst of global health organization, Swasti, who is redefining how communities, especially the most vulnerable, respond to climate-driven health risks through real-time data insights.
Meet Miguel A. Torres, President of Familia Torres, who’s redefining winemaking with bold climate action – from slashing CO₂ emissions to powering vineyards sustainably, he’s proving that great wine and a healthy planet go hand in hand.
Meet Impact Maker Ragy Ramadan Ahmed Shehata, Founder & CEO of NoorNation in Cairo, Egypt. Discover his journey to deliver innovative climate solutions like LifeBox, bringing clean energy and safe water to underserved communities across Africa.
Meet Gilberto Ribeiro, Partner and CIO of VOX Capital, leading climate finance innovations for sustainable energy and land use in Brazil. Gilberto’s work mobilizes funds to address Brazil’s environmental challenges, from deforestation to sustainable agriculture.
Race to Resilience Youth Fellow, Ferdison Valmond, explains how inclusive climate action can create a more resilient and sustainable world. Valmond highlights the campaign’s commitment to empowering underrepresented groups to ensure they play an active role in shaping climate resilience efforts.
Climate Champions’ Youth Fellow, Amal Ridene sheds light on scaling adaptation finance at COP29, where adaptation funding and private sector engagement are central to closing the climate resilience gap. As finance remains underfunded, COP29 offers new opportunities for impactful investment in adaptation.
Meet Ramil Azmammadov, CEO of Dr. Agro, who’s empowering Azerbaijani farmers to make data-driven decisions for sustainable yields. Dr. Agro’s platform equips farmers with tools for crop planning, budgeting, disease alerts, and climate insights – helping them navigate challenges and increase productivity.
Distinguished economist and finance expert Vera Songwe has been instrumental in shaping discussions on Africa’s economic future, and the global climate finance agenda at large. On the eve of COP 29 in Baku, Songwe discusses the role of climate finance, green industrialization, and the need for global cooperation to combat the climate crisis.
Meet Fany Kuiru, General Coordinator of COICA and the first woman to lead the Amazon’s largest Indigenous coalition. Fany spearheaded the Amazon for Life Fund to empower Indigenous communities by supporting sustainable, self-determined projects across the Amazon Basin.
Meet Michael Kakande, Founder & Chairperson of Resilient40 and champion for climate justice, mobilizing African voices to drive action at local and global levels. Through Resilient40 and initiatives like the African Citizen’s Climate Caravan, Michael is amplifying African youth and community perspectives in the global climate conversation.
