The Green Growth Summit, the Green Growth Partnership's flagship event, convened on December 16, 2024, in Brussels and online. It gathered Ministers, State Secretaries from the Green Growth Group, and high-level representatives from European institutions and businesses.

Amidst the start of a new institutional cycle, the Summit focused on the critical role of climate and the Green Deal in boosting EU competitiveness. Discussions aimed at charting a course for the EU to achieve its climate objectives for 2030 and 2040.

Water is fundamental to all life. In "Water Always Wins," Erica Gies examines water's vital role and our connection to it, proposing we consider what water desires instead of controlling its path.

This episode is from Nature's Genius, a Bioneers limited series.

Fungi form a complex, vital underground network of mycorrhizal threads, exchanging nutrients and forming symbiotic partnerships essential for life on Earth. Visionary biologists Toby Kiers and Merlin Sheldrake explore these wonders in an episode of Bioneers' *Nature's Genius* series.

Dr. Kiers is Executive Director and Chief Scientist of SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks) and a Professor at VU Amsterdam. Dr. Sheldrake, a biologist and writer, is a research associate at Vrije University Amsterdam, works with SPUN, and advises the Fungi Foundation.

Nature's Genius, a Bioneers podcast, explores how nature's wisdom offers solutions for human civilization and living systems. It posits an "Age of Nature," urging a radical shift in our relationship with the natural world for healing ourselves and the planet.

The series blends Indigenous wisdom and modern science, revealing interconnectedness and time-tested principles from 3.8 billion years of evolution that allow living systems to flourish.

It features scientists, ecologists, Indigenous practitioners, and authors like Brett KenCairn (naturebasedclimate.solutions) and Toby Kiers (spun.earth). They explore nature's inherent intelligence to model sustainable human organization.

Courage and love fuel our commitment to a sustainable world. Through individual and executive actions, we can shape the future, igniting passion and creativity to address climate challenges.

Let's step into a hopeful tomorrow together.

On November 18, WECAN hosted a COP29 press conference where women leaders advocated for a fossil fuel phaseout and a Just Transition. Speakers emphasized the importance of climate finance for equitable solutions and accountability, also highlighting efforts for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The panel featured Eriel Tchekwie Deranger (Indigenous Climate Action), Dr. Amiera Sawas (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty), and Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN).

WECAN organized a COP29 press conference featuring Brazilian Indigenous women leaders. They advocated for Indigenous rights, forest and water protection, community well-being, and global climate action, with a focus on the path to COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Speakers included Puyr Tembé, Concita Sôpré, and Lucimara Patté, all co-founders of Ancestral Indigenous Women Warriors (ANMIGA). Moderated by Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN), the event highlighted the critical role of Indigenous women in safeguarding Amazonian biodiversity and connected biomes.

On November 16, WECAN hosted a COP29 Press Conference, advocating a new legal and economic framework based on living in balance with Earth's natural systems. Prominent speakers discussed the Rights of Nature movement, highlighting its potential as a systemic framework for defending biodiversity, communities, and the climate.

WECAN presented "A Global Initiative for a Universal Declaration on the Rights of Nature," outlining a strategy for national and subnational governments to adopt this declaration. To learn more about this vital initiative, please visit: wecaninternational.org/ron-declaration

Electric vehicles (EVs) are indeed better for the environment, confirms Hannah Ritchie, deputy editor at Our World In Data. Although EV manufacturing, particularly for batteries, is more energy-intensive, this initial carbon footprint is quickly offset by cleaner operation.

For instance, in the UK, extra production emissions are typically recouped within two years of driving. After this period, EVs consistently emit significantly less CO2 than comparable petrol or diesel cars. Over its lifetime, an EV can reduce emissions by 1/2 to 2/3 compared to a conventional vehicle.

Dr. Shane Gero's groundbreaking research deciphers sperm whale communication, revealing their complex, intelligent lives and cultures. His work suggests whales are "people too," urging us to learn deep listening for respectful coexistence.

Gero, a Canadian whale biologist and National Geographic Explorer, founded The Dominica Sperm Whale Project and leads biology for Project CETI. His science, which formed the basis for the Emmy-winning series *Secrets of the Whales*, is transforming our understanding of marine life. Learn more at shanegero.com.

This episode is part of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series, exploring these vital insights.

Welcome to The Freethink Interview, a series from our sister channel @freethink, featuring thought-provoking conversations with the new generation of builders, leaders, and thinkers shaping technological progress.

This episode highlights Casey Handmer, founder and CEO of Terraform Industries. He believes solar energy is key to a future free from fossil fuels and extreme poverty. His company pioneers technology to create synthetic natural gas from sunlight and air, leveraging simple chemistry and advanced solar power.

Handmer envisions solar as a catalyst for human progress, providing cheap, abundant energy globally to potentially eliminate extreme poverty. Subscribe to Freethink: https://freeth.ink/youtube-subscribe. Watch next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFjg1qEsO04

Celebrate your pals this Pal-entine's Day! Guardian dogs, like [dog's name], are vital companions for cattle, protecting them from nocturnal predators that approach the farm.

Learn more about these incredible canine protectors by reading our blog.

Boudreaux, President & CEO, discusses Oberon Fuels' mission to decarbonize the fuel and energy sectors. The company aims to slash the environmental impact of fuels, particularly in hard-to-abate areas like heavy-duty transportation and agriculture.

Oberon achieves this through renewable dimethyl ether (rDME). Their low or carbon-negative rDME fuel can reduce LPG's carbon intensity by up to 60% when blended, potentially cutting global CO2 by 750 million metric tons annually. rDME also offers a compelling approach for transporting hydrogen for its fast-growing applications.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a leading organization of lawyers, scientists, and activists dedicated to protecting endangered species and habitats worldwide. Learn more about their work: biologicaldiversity.org.

All footage ©2025.

On November 5, WECAN Executive Director Osprey Orielle Lake addressed the GLOBE COP26 Legislators Summit at the Scottish Parliament. She urged global leaders to reject false solutions, advocating for climate justice, Indigenous rights, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and greater inclusion of women and frontline communities in decision-making.

Lake highlighted that current country commitments fall short of the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree target. She presented a "Call to Action" from the Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice, outlining how existing frameworks can achieve this goal. This call represents millions of women and feminists worldwide.

Read the Call to Action Statement and Framework Recommendations.

WECAN Executive Director Osprey Orielle Lake addressed world governments at the UN ahead of COP26, declaring a refusal to sacrifice future generations for corporate greed and political power. She urged leaders to fight for social, racial, economic justice, and Indigenous and human rights, emphasizing that communities need climate justice now.

Lake demanded an end to "sacrifice people" and "sacrifice zones," challenging governments to confront the fossil fuel industry and deliver the promised $100 billion for a just transition. Highlighting that current commitments fall short of the 1.5°C target, she presented a "Call to Action" from the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice, outlining existing frameworks.

Read the Call to Action Statement here and the Framework Recommendations here.

During WECAN's Climate Week events, Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative to the UN and Ambassador from the Maldives, spoke with WECAN Executive Director Osprey Orielle Lake. Their discussion focused on climate justice policies, women's leadership, and accelerating just, resilient, community-led solutions.

This event was part of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) three-day Climate Justice Forum. Titled "Facing the Climate Emergency on the Road to COP27: Solutions and Perspectives from Global Women and Gender Diverse Leaders," the forum took place September 20-22.

In June 2022, Osprey Orielle Lake delivered a presentation at Scenarios Forum Session 93.

Her talk, titled "Addressing the gender dimension in socioeconomic scenarios," explored policy and climate change impacts on gender equality, and gender equality's role as a driver of change.

Indigenous women are leading global efforts to uphold Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in interactions with financial institutions and corporations. These institutions often perpetuate human and Indigenous rights violations, particularly in extractive industries. A recent event highlighted the need for these entities to implement FPIC, Indigenous rights, and due diligence, while investing in climate justice solutions centered on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Given the climate crisis, respecting Indigenous knowledge, ways of life, and FPIC—including the right to say “no” to extraction—is paramount, as 80% of Earth's biodiversity remains on Indigenous lands. This discussion took place at a formal side-event of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2022, featuring Indigenous women leaders and global advocates like Sônia Guajajara and Casey Camp-Horinek.

International women leaders convened a press conference to discuss feminist and women-led visions for a healthy, equitable future. They shared insights from global movements, examined the impacts of international climate policies, and proposed strategies and alternatives.

Speakers included Neema Namadamu (DRC), Casey Camp Horinek (USA), Anne Songole (FEMNET, Kenya), Taily Terena (Brazil), and Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN).