Small Island Developing States and the climate crisis In our final episode of the 'Loss, Damage, and Denial' miniseries, Jacob speaks with Tristan Ward, a social and behaviour change officer at UNICEF from Barbados, about the climate losses and damages facing the Caribbean and the need for climate finance. We also hear from Netta Maiava, a young Samoan Pacific Climate Warrior, about the need to centre First Nations perspectives in climate solutions.  Photo: Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been a strong advocate for more climate finance for small island developing states.  Produced by Jacob Gamble Earth Matters Episode #1408

Valuing the world's disappearing kelp forestsKelp forests are disappearing around the world and in Australia due to warming oceans, pollution and other human impacts.In this episode of Earth Matters we speak with Aaron Egar, marine scientist at the University of New South Wales about his research on the value of kelp forests, the Kelp Forest Alliance and Kelp Forest Challengehttps://theconversation.com/a-forgotten-and-neglected-ecosystem-covers-a-third-of-earths-coastlines-with-a-collective-value-of-500-billion-203908 We also hear from Deborah Wace, a botanical artist, fabric designer and professional print maker from Tasmania who uses kelp and other endangered Tasmanian plants in her designs to show their beauty, tell their stories and why they needto be protected.http://deborahwace.com https://news.mongabay.com/2022/07/scientists-strive-to-restore-worlds-embattled-kelp-forests/ Photo credit: iStock-150671961 Kelp Forest Music:  Let the Franklin Flow by Goanna (Gordon Franklin Wilderness Ensemble) Earth Matters Episode #1407Produced by Judith Peppard

The Knitting Nannas were outside Forestry NSW demanding an end to the destruction of our forests that provide ecosystem services and species.  They also offer some caring advice and hope to young people.  In Canberra, outside the Japanese Embassy more Nannas, climate and forest defence groups ask the Japanese government to reconsider its green transition strategy as it means burning more of our  forests, coal and gas. Petition to End Native Forest Logging in Australia: 20,000 signatures needed by July 1st, 2023End Native Forest Logging Now - Bob Brown Foundation Music:     Morning in the Australian Bush: Andrew Keoch and Sarah Koschak      Green Odyssey: Pierre Perez-Vergara  Links: Knitting Nannas – Saving the land, air and water for the kiddies (knitting-nannas.com) Coastwatchers     See Facebook :             Knitting Nannas for Native Forests - South Coast Loop                                          Knitting Nannas in the MUD                                                 Birdlife Shoalhaven,                                                   Treading Lightly Inc,                                                  Knitting Nannas for Native Forests - South Coast Loop,                                                  Brooman State Forest Conservation Group,                                                  Knitting Nannas Against Gas Manyana                                           Move Beyond Coal Canberra                                          Canberra Forest Alliance                                                                                                   Earth Matters #1406 was produced by Bec Horridge

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Australians used 3.4 million tonnes of plastics in 2018-2019.This week Earth Matters looks at two tools in the fight against plastic waste, revisiting the benefits of cash for containers policy and learning about potential uses for plastic eating micro fungi. Guests include Robert, from community group Cash for Containers, and researcher Amira Farzana Samat from the University of Sydney. Ms Samat's coauthored paper on microfungi can be found here.

Last month Victoria announce the end of native forest logging in the state would be brought forward to Jan 1 2024. And just this week, a whale is entangled in a shark net in Queensland. This week on Earth Matters we have Isaac Carne– Campaigner for Goongerah Environment CentreLeroy Johnson – Barkindji Malaygangapaa MusicianLauren Sandeman – threatened species campaigner for Sea Shepherd Australia. Earth Matters Episode #1404 produced by Megan Williams

Home to exquisite landscapes, rich culture, and the world’s tallest peaks, the mountainous communities that inhabit the Himalayas face an existential threat. Described as the ‘water tower of Asia’, the glaciers that feed ten of Asia’s major rivers are melting faster, amid a warming climate and increasingly unpredictable rain and drought. It’s posing a threat to lives and livelihoods, and contributed to the deadly 2022 floods in Pakistan. Jacob speaks with climate activists Shreya K.C. (Nepal), Irfan Ulllah (Pakistan), and environmental historian Dr Ruth Gamble, about how the region is experiencing loss and damage, the need for climate finance, and the importance of local governance.In partnership with the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Earth Matters is bringing stories from climate vulnerable regions in the world under a mini series ‘Loss, Damage, and Denial’.

HR23: Preventing drug-related harm; protecting human rightsStrength in Solidarity was the theme of the Harm Reduction International Conference held in Naarm/Melbourne from April 16th to 19th this year. Policy makers, advocates, people who use drugs, academics and service providers called for an end to the international war on drugs and the punitive policies that have a devastating effect on some of the world’s poorest people and on the environment.We hear from:Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Health on the move to decriminalise possession of small quantities of drugs for personal useKirsten Han, from the Transformative Justice Collective in Singapore, working to end the death penaltyNilawan Pitakpanawong, Thai Drug Users Network, on the Mobile Methadone Program for Drug Users in Ethnic groups in Northern ThailandDiego Andres Lugo-Vivas, academic and activist from CET Academic programs in Colombia on the environmental impact of the war on drugs To hear Helen Clark, Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, address the Harm Reduction International Conference go to the following link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktUr6GWZAcYPhoto: Northern Thailand waranont-joe-UnsplashProduced by Judith PeppardEarth Matters #1402

On this episode of Loss, Damage, and Denial, Jacob speaks with Tongan law student Soane Tupola about how climate change will affect his island home, and his hopes for a climate positive future.We speak with Mahealani Delaney from the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions on how the broader region will be impacted socially, environmentally, economically, and culturally by the climate crisis.Magdalene Johnson, a youth climate activist from the Marshall Islands, discusses the work of her organisation Jo-Jikum in combatting rising sea levels.

Earth Matters speaks with Sweltering Cities, a campaign in Sydney and Melbourne seeking  to empower communities experiencing extreme heat by lifting up stories of lived experience and building community organizing campaigns around local impacts and public health.  Earth Matters speaks with Executive Director of the campaign, Emma Bacon on the data surrounding heatwaves and the need for an intersectional community led response to cooling our cities as we prepare for summer.  Sweltering Cities can be found at: https://swelteringcities.org/

Forest campaigners Avi Mahaningtyas and Patrick Anderson talk about the importance of recognising forest peoples rights in  Indonesia, the  30 by 30 Biodiversity Convention, the effectiveness of tropical timber boycotts and certification, the success of lobbying financiers,  the effect of social media, and the slow food movement.Guests:  Avi Mahaningtyas is a     board member of the. Shas been working in the non government sector in Indonesia for the last 25 years. Her main focuses have been environmental policy and practice, community business development, women’s empowerment, indigenous peoples rights and governance reform. Avi is an environmental consultant and knowledge facilitator.  Patrick Anderson, is with The Rainforest Information Centre and is a policy advisor with the Forest Peoples Programme, a human rights group that supports forest peoples’ struggles throughout the wet tropics Music Nathan May: Its gotta start somewhere 2023LinksMission and Values - Rainforest Action Network (ran.org) The Rainforest Information CentreProfile: Patrick Anderson’s career in environmental and human rights movements - New MandalaForest Peoples ProgrammeForest Politics in Indonesia: Drivers of Deforestation and Dispossession | FPP (forestpeoples.org)