This week’s good climate news

With so much still to do to slow warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, it’s important to fortify ourselves by celebrating wins along the way.

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A lush forest now more likely to be protected thanks to COP27

Rainforest protection pact signed at COP27

Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to more than half of the world’s tropical forests. On Monday, these countries joined forces to allocate funds for tropical forest conservation and protection.

This agreement also came at COP27. What is COP27, you ask? Here's an insider's look at the world's largest climate conference. 

Rocks in the River Jordan

Israel and Jordan agree to save Jordan River at COP27

The sacred Jordan River is threatened by pollution and climate change — its runoff is only 7% of what it once was. At COP27, Israel and Jordan announced their joint agreement to conserve and protect their shared Jordan River.

The agreement is, as you can see, not the only important news coming out of COP27, and here are the three biggest issues we were keeping an eye on.

A range of mountains rising above the mist in Indonesia which is so stunningly beautiful, it honestly looks like someone drew it

Billions to help Indonesia stop using coal pledged at, you guessed it, COP27

A group of wealthy countries, led by the U.S. and Japan, signed a $20 billion agreement to help Indonesia transition away from coal usage at COP27. Roughly 60% of electricity in Indonesia is generated by coal.

This massive investment could help curb the coal, so this deal will be pivotal in transforming the country’s power sector to renewable energy. 

Aerial view of Brazil's rainforest

Brazil’s President-elect promises climate action at, of course, COP27

Brazil’s president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ran on a promise to end deforestation in the Amazon, and at COP27, Lula declared that “Brazil is back.” Brazil’s return to climate leadership is a reason for hope in the climate change fight. 

“The 60 million Brazilians who voted for Lula may well have voted to save the planet,” says EDF’s Steve Schwartzman.

A school of trout swimming in a stream

Also, a non-COP27 thing happened: Millions invested to protect fish

The U.S. Forest Service recently announced a five-year, $40 million deal with Trout Unlimited, a conservation group, to improve key habitats for salmon and trout.

The agreement will focus on building up watersheds on national forests and grasslands, plus work on stream restoration and removing barriers to fish passage and improving stream habitats.

Let’s take action on climate together