This year, in an international climate summit, three states and nine enterprises have announced their new coalition, called LEAF. The foundation aims to mobilize and raise $1 billion in 2021 to protect tropical rainforests and enable sustainable development. Among the states participating in the initiative are the US, Norway, and the UK. The coalition also includes companies like Amazon, Nestle, Unilever, Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Airbnb.

Enabling sustainable practices

LEAF or Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance is an enormous effort shown by global companies to save tropical rainforests. Its goal is to make businesses, governments, and NGOs pay for high-quality emissions reductions from forests, verifying against an independent standard. The coalition brings a new approach that will protect rainforests by offering countries financial assurance to push sustainable environmental policies. According to Manish Bapna, the CEO and Interim President of the World Resources Unit, “With local-level involvement, this approach can be a triple-win: for the climate, tropical forests and for people that depend on them.” 

Preserving the tropical forests

The new organization is expecting more participants to join in the coming months. Senior VP of Environmental Defense Fund Nathaniel Keohane said, “This is a game-changer in the fight to save tropical forests—a new model for catalyzing finance, at a scale that is truly up to the challenge.” Keohane also feels that the LEAF will set high standards for corporates to cut down on their emissions by investing in an additional reduction of emissions from tropical rainforests. It will also ensure that “the rights of indigenous peoples who have and who continue to protect these forests are respected and fulfilled,” said Keohane. 

This new financing model is likely to channel billions of dollars’ worth of investments to protect nature on a large enough scale and counter the climate crisis by meeting world climate goals.

Although it’s easy to give in to the doom and gloom that the coronavirus pandemic is causing, there’s no doubt about the fact that some people – and some creatures – are rising above it. More and more people are now finding ways to help those who are worse affected by the current situation, and it seems as though this pet ferret is the latest samaritan who deserves a round of applause. Perhaps some ferret treats, as well.

Raising Money

It’s no secret that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has left many people with nothing. Parents have lost their jobs, children can’t go to school, and they are struggling to pay their bills. There are others who are much more fortunate, and many of these people are now putting their heads together to raise money for charities that can help those who are struggling. That’s how the Wood family from Oxfordshire got involved.

The London Marathon

In the UK, many people are raising funds by taking part in the 2.6 Challenge. Because the London Marathon was canceled, those who would have been running it and those who just want to get involved are running 2.6 miles around their backyards or down their street to raise money for charities helping the coronavirus fight. Jim and Arabella Wood decided to do just that, and they took their kids and their pet ferret along for the ride. However, when they realized that Bandit the ferret wasn’t getting tired, they opted to do the full 26 miles instead.

Out For A Walk

Bandit may be just eight months old, but that didn’t stop him from walking 26 miles over the course of two and a half weeks. The Wood family raised money along the way, and that money has now been donated to various charities who are providing educational and entertaining books for children who can’t afford them.

Well done to Bandit, the ferret!